NEWS
“Nobody Offered Me Vice Presidential Ticket, I Didn’t Reject It“ — Peter Obi Reveals
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed claims that he rejected an offer to become the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that nobody offered him a vice-presidential ticket.
Obi made the clarification during an exclusive interview with Arise TV while responding to questions about his political relationship with Atiku and the circumstances surrounding their different political paths between the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Interviewer Ojy Okpe reminded Obi that he had worked with Atiku Abubakar in 2019 and asked what had changed between then and 2023, as well as why he was now perceived as unwilling to accept the position of vice president.
Ojy Okpe: “You worked with Atiku Abubakar in 2019. What changed in 2023 and now? Why do you now feel too big to be Vice Presidential candidate?”
Obi, however, rejected the premise of the question, saying he had never been offered a vice-presidential ticket that he subsequently turned down.
“Nobody offered me Vice Presidential ticket and I rejected it.”
The former Anambra State governor’s response adds another layer to the political history surrounding his relationship with Atiku, particularly their alliance during the 2019 presidential election.
Obi served as Atiku’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election before leaving the party and contesting the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party’s candidate.
His performance in the 2023 election significantly elevated his profile on the national political stage, as he emerged as one of the leading contenders and finished third in the presidential race according to the official results.
With Obi now seeking the presidency again under the NDC ahead of the 2027 election, his latest comments are likely to renew conversations about his political journey, his relationship with Atiku and the choices that shaped his emergence as an independent presidential contender.