By Osaretin Osadebamwen
The Convener of the League of Northern Democrats, Dr Umar Ardo, has said the ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi present difficult choices for opposition leaders seeking a united presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
Ardo said the challenge was not merely about persuading the two politicians to work together, but also about managing the expectations of their respective supporters.
He spoke while being interviewed on Arise Friday night.
Assessing Atiku’s position, Ardo said: “Atiku does not, in my view, have the propensity by himself to say, I will step down.”
He added that the former vice president would not necessarily face a rebellion from his supporters if he decided to withdraw.
“If he says so, he would not have problem with his support base. He will not,” Ardo said, but immediately added that “he is highly unlikely to say that.”
Ardo offered a different assessment of Obi, saying the former governor could be more willing to sacrifice his personal ambition for a broader opposition arrangement.
“Peter Obi has the propensity to say, I will step down,” he said.
But Ardo said Obi would encounter another obstacle if he took such a decision.
“But if he says so, he will not have the support. He will not be able to carry his support base,” he said.
According to him, the contrasting situations involving the two politicians represent a fundamental difficulty for the opposition coalition project.
“These are the two problems,” Ardo said, warning that unless both issues were resolved, “I don’t see the fusing together being possible.”
He nevertheless rejected the assumption that the failure to produce a joint ticket would automatically end the opposition’s chances in 2027.
“Even if they do not fuse together, if individually anyone has the capacity to upturn the other, depending on how he strategises himself,” Ardo said.
He therefore believes either politician could potentially defeat the incumbent if he develops an effective strategy.
Ardo’s assessment suggests that the opposition’s unity negotiations face a double test: persuading prominent politicians to compromise while ensuring their supporters remain committed to whichever arrangement eventually emerges.
