Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, have denied that they have started preparation for a joint ticket for the 2027 elections.
The two were the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 presidential election.
Following their meeting over the weekend in Adamawa State, tongues started wagging that Abubakar and Obi, who ran for the presidency on the platforms of the PDP and Labour Party respectively in 2024, tongues started wagging over the 2027 elections.
Obi was in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, to deliver a lecture at American University of Nigeria, which is owned by Abubakar.
Speaking to the reaction of the public on their meeting of his principal with Obi, Abubakar’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, said: “Let us not jump the gun.
“The fact is that Obi accepted to be the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary of AUN and the 16th Founder’s Day, which was a milestone.
“Obi is part of that celebration.
“The university was founded by Atiku Abubakar, who was more like his host.
“But people think it is because of politics.
“We all know our friends.
“The truth is that politics cannot separate friends.
“So Atiku invited him to breakfast and from there, they went for the programme.
“I think that is what happened.”
The media aide of Obi, Ibrahim Umar, said the 2027 election was not in view when the meeting with Abubakar took place.
Umar said: “No, there was nothing like that.
“They just invited him (Obi) to deliver a speech there.
“It has nothing to do with politics.
“Of course, you know people will always assume things.”
