Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has dismissed suggestions that he is avoiding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made the remarks on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, on the sidelines of the Spier Dialogue 2026, a pan-African governance forum.
“There are very few human beings who are as close as I am to Atiku. So I can’t be running from him. This man is my very respected leader and elder brother,” Obi said.
He added: “I don’t run from him. Never. It has nothing to do with running from anybody. I’ve never run from anybody. I just believe that I do things differently.”
The statement seeks to clarify tensions following the collapse of a short-lived opposition alliance. Obi and Atiku had initially adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, with Obi joining the party on January 1, 2026.
The partnership unravelled due to internal conflicts and legal disputes. Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso later moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, citing the need to move beyond litigation-driven politics.
Despite the fallout, Obi maintained deep personal respect for Atiku while stressing his preference for a different political approach.
The development underscores ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the next general elections.
