The camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have dismissed rumors suggesting a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Speculations were sparked on social media after photos and videos surfaced of Atiku hosting Obi for breakfast at his residence in Adamawa State. The images, which quickly went viral, fueled discussions about a potential political collaboration between the two opposition leaders.

The Viral Meeting
Atiku shared a video of the breakfast on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, captioning it, “It is breakfast time with my friend, #PeterObi, in the ‘land of beauty.’” The footage showed the two leaders seated together at a dining table, engaging in what appeared to be a friendly and informal discussion.

The meeting coincided with Obi’s visit to Adamawa State to serve as the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary and 16th Founder’s Day celebration of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), an institution founded by Atiku.

This interaction reignited conversations about a possible merger between key opposition figures, especially as the political landscape begins to shift in preparation for the next general elections. These speculations were further fueled by earlier comments from the Deputy National Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Abdullahi, who hinted at potential discussions among Atiku, Obi, and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Dismissing the rumors, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, clarified that the breakfast was purely a social encounter with no political undertones.

“The meeting was simply a friendly reunion. Obi was invited as the keynote speaker for AUN’s anniversary celebrations, a milestone for an institution founded by Atiku. It was natural for Atiku to host him to breakfast as part of the event. People shouldn’t read too much into this,” Ibe stated.

He further emphasized that friendships transcend politics, adding, “Politics cannot separate friends. Atiku invited Obi for breakfast before they proceeded to the university program. It was nothing more than that.”

Similarly, Obi’s media aide, Ibrahim Umar, denied any connection between the meeting and a potential joint ticket for the 2027 elections.

“It’s amusing how everything involving political figures is given a political interpretation. Obi was simply invited to deliver a speech at the event. There is no political agenda here. People are free to speculate, but there’s no substance to those claims,” Umar said.

Background of Speculations
The idea of a potential alliance among opposition figures like Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso has been a topic of discussion in recent months. Many observers believe such a coalition could strengthen the opposition’s chances against the ruling party in future elections. However, public statements from their respective camps suggest no concrete plans for collaboration have been discussed.

The meeting, though officially non-political, has inadvertently reignited conversations about the need for strategic alliances among opposition parties.

For now, both camps have firmly denied any political motives behind the meeting, urging Nigerians to see it as a friendly gathering rather than a prelude to a political merger. However, as the 2027 elections draw closer, any public interaction among political heavyweights will likely continue to fuel speculation and debate.