Obi says he'll only accept 2027 election if process credible, calls Atiku respected elder

Peter Obi reacted to former VP Atiku Abubakar's remark that 2027 would be his final presidential bid if he secures the African Democratic Candidate ticket. Speaking on Naija Unfiltered podcast earlier today, Obi called Atiku his "respected leader and dear elder brother," stating they're not at that stage yet and that Atiku's conditional statement reflects a leader's mindset.

The Labour Party figure emphasized that his acceptance of any post-primary agreement depends entirely on electoral process credibility. "I accept what happens after it if it’s through a transparent process you can call fair and credible," Obi said, adding that he left previous parties due to finding their processes "transactional." He stressed: "It’s critical that the process through which people come into office is far more fundamental than what they do after."

Obi warned against cutting corners in leadership emergence: "You cannot jump into the house through the window and start cleaning the house and expect everybody to accept you. The process must be right." His comments come amid ongoing discussions about opposition unity and electoral integrity ahead of 2027.

With Obi insisting he'll only participate if the process is fair—echoing his stance after the 2023 election—will Nigerians trust that future electoral processes meet his credibility threshold, or should opposition parties prioritize reforming nomination procedures now to avoid repeat disputes?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/18/peter-obi-reacts-to-atikus-2027-last-bid-remark/