The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi, are reportedly in talks to form a new political party ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to sources, Abubakar and Obi recently met to discuss the potential creation of a new party as part of their preparations for the next presidential race. The two leaders are scheduled to meet again in Yola, Adamawa State, on Saturday, November 30, where Obi will be the keynote speaker at a ceremony marking Abubakar’s 78th birthday.
A spokesperson confirmed that the option of a merger is still being considered, although no further details were provided.
Since their defeat to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023, Abubakar and Obi have been in talks about a possible alliance. The event at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), founded by Abubakar, is seen as a sign of the ongoing friendship between the two men.
The potential merger or alliance is partly driven by the ongoing crises within both the PDP and the Labour Party. The PDP has been in turmoil since 2023, with its national chairman, Umar Damagum, being a loyalist of Nyesom Wike, who opposed Abubakar’s presidential bid and supported Tinubu in the election. Similarly, the Labour Party is facing internal strife, with national chairman Julius Abure at odds with Obi.
With the 2027 election season approaching in just 13 months, reports suggest that discussions between Atiku and Obi are progressing rapidly, with former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai also reportedly involved in the talks.
