Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar cannot be pressured or forced to abandon his 2027 presidential ambition in favour of Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
Mr Momodu stated this during an interview on Channels Television while reacting to calls by some supporters of Mr Obi, popularly known as Obedients, urging Atiku to support the former Anambra State governor ahead of the next presidential election.
According to him, both Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso should be allowed to test their popularity at the polls without attempts to edge out other aspirants.
“It’s good that he will go and test his popularity elsewhere, like others also, but you can’t force Atiku out for a man because the man says if me and Kwankwaso come together by 12 o’clock, elections will be over,” Mr Momodu said.
He maintained that any presidential contest should be determined through an open and democratic primary process rather than through pressure or political negotiations aimed at favouring a particular candidate.
“There is no guarantee that Atiku will defeat Obi at the primaries because they are going to throw it open. But he chose to go,” he added.
Mr Momodu also dismissed concerns raised by Obi over internal litigations within political parties, saying such issues should not be used to undermine anyone’s political standing.
“One of the reasons he gave was that there is too much litigation here and there. We don’t know where he has gone to now. If there is litigation or not, it doesn’t matter to me. I wish him the best,” he said.
The comments come amid growing political realignments and speculations over possible alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
