Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate Peter Obi has ruled out stepping down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying decisions on opposition alliances are matters for political parties rather than individual aspirants.

Obi made the clarification amid renewed speculation over whether Nigeria’s opposition figures could unite behind a single presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

According to him, discussions about coalition arrangements should be handled by the political parties involved and their established structures, not by individual candidates negotiating personal political deals.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate maintained that he is contesting the election under a separate political platform, while Atiku is also pursuing the presidency on his own party’s banner, making reports that he would withdraw in favour of the former vice president inaccurate.

Obi’s position comes after months of shifting opposition politics following the collapse of earlier coalition efforts. An alliance involving several opposition leaders had sought to produce a consensus candidate, but disagreements over party structures, legal disputes and leadership questions ultimately weakened the arrangement.

Political analysts say the inability of the opposition to agree on a single presidential ticket has reinforced the prospect of another multi-candidate race similar to the 2023 election, when the opposition vote was split among leading contenders.

Both Obi and Atiku remain two of the most prominent challengers to President Tinubu as campaigns for the 2027 general election gather momentum, although they are now pursuing their ambitions under separate party identities.

While reiterating his commitment to collaboration on national issues, Obi insisted that any future alliance must emerge through transparent decisions taken by political parties and in the broader interest of Nigerians, rather than through speculation about individual candidates stepping aside.