2027: Atiku asked to step aside, support Obi for presidency

A former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief (Dr.) Simon Nsobundu Okeke, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support Peter Obi’s bid for the presidency.

Okeke made the call in a statement titled: “A passionate appeal from an elder statesman to all patriotic Nigerian members of African Democratic Congress (ADC)”.

He said Obi remains the most nationally accepted presidential aspirant despite human imperfections.

“Peter Obi may not be getting it right in some areas. Being human, it should be expected. No one is perfect.

“Nonetheless, among all the presidential aspirants today, he is the most acceptable nationwide,” Okeke stated.

According to him, no candidate in Nigeria’s political history before and after independence has enjoyed such broad acceptance across the country.

“At no time in the political history of Nigeria before, during and after our Independence till this date has any candidate from any part of Nigeria enjoyed such a universal nationwide acceptance, not even the great charismatic Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik),” he noted.

Speaking on Atiku’s past presidential bids, Okeke said the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate had consistently enjoyed strong support from the South East, more than any other northern candidate.

He said, “On Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential bids up to 2023, no Northern presidential candidate had ever enjoyed the massive support of the people of South East as he has.”

Okeke added that Atiku’s participation in the 2023 election reduced Obi’s margin of victory in the region.

He argued that the 2027 election offers Atiku an opportunity to repay the South East by stepping aside and backing Obi, noting that by political convention, the presidency should remain in the South to complete another four years.

“One would expect that 2027 contest will give Alhaji Atiku a good opportunity to reciprocate the same support he has progressively received from the South East by him not only withdrawing from the contest which by convention is for Southern candidates to serve out balance of term of 4 years, but to throw his weight behind Peter Obi,” the ex-PSC chair stated.

Okeke warned that failure to do so would raise doubts about Atiku’s long-standing relationship with Ndigbo.

“Failure to do this will portray him to be opposite of what we thought he is – a true friend of Ndigbo. He needs to show appreciation of our South East support for his several presidential bids.”

He also appealed to northern and South West politicians to support Obi, saying such a move would promote fairness and help close the painful chapter of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.

“I appeal to our Northern and South Western brothers and friends to see the equity and justice in supporting Peter Obi’s presidential bid since his victory will put the burden of the Nigeria-Biafra war behind us permanently,” Okeke added.