“If Peter Obi and Atiku Come Together, It’s Going to Deplete Our Support Base,” APC Chieftain Warns Ahead of 2027 Elections

Dominic Alancha, a senior figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has warned that a joint ticket between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi could seriously weaken the ruling party’s position in the 2027 elections.

Alancha, who also heads the Northern Ethnic Nationality Forum (NENF), made the comments during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme. He urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, arguing that maintaining it could give the opposition a strong campaign advantage.

“The dynamics in 2027 may not be the same as in 2023,” Alancha said. “If Peter Obi and Atiku align on a single ticket, it could deplete our support base. At the table, they already command over 13 to 14 million votes.”

Alancha highlighted that careful preparation is crucial for electoral success. “It is not too early because preparation precedes manifestation. If you’re not preparing to succeed, you must have been planning to fail,” he noted. He warned that although there may be quiet now, tensions could rise when campaigns begin, especially if the Muslim-Muslim ticket is retained.

The APC chieftain also expressed concern over speculation that former President Goodluck Jonathan might return to the political scene in 2027. He said some northern political actors are advocating for Jonathan’s comeback, creating a “cult-like following” around the idea. Alancha stressed that if Jonathan joins the race alongside Atiku and Obi, the Muslim-Muslim ticket would face significant challenges, calling for a more balanced approach to the party’s presidential ticket.

In 2023, Tinubu won the presidency with 8,794,726 votes, while Abubakar and Obi secured 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes, respectively. Earlier this year, Atiku and Obi agreed to use the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition platform to challenge Tinubu in 2027.