2027: Atiku-Obi ticket not enough to unseat Tinubu, Oshiomhole boasts

A former Edo State Governor and senator representing Edo North, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed speculations that a possible joint ticket between ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could threaten President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects in 2027.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, Oshiomhole, who also once chaired the All Progressives Congress, argued that the ruling party remains the dominant political force in Nigeria.

According to him, the ruling party has an enviable record of consistently defeating both Atiku and Obi, whether they contested together or separately.

He said, “Did Atiku not run with Obi before and contest against the APC? Were they not defeated? Anybody can throw up numbers or statistics as they want. But the point is that when these two ran together, they were roundly defeated by the APC. When they did before, what happened?

“They have a history of being defeated together and apart. They ran together, but they were defeated. They ran separately, but they were still defeated. So if they come back together, very good. They will still be defeated.”

When reminded by the programme host that the 2027 political landscape could differ significantly from 2019 or 2023, the senator disagreed, insisting that Atiku and Obi have lost public momentum and remain incapable of posing a real challenge to Tinubu.

Taking a swipe at the former vice president, Oshiomhole described Atiku as “a serial political contestant and loser”, stressing that his repeated attempts to return to power had only weakened his credibility.

He stated, “Buhari had three million more votes than his runner-up because I was the chairman by 2019. Check the figures. So that is not correct. By 2019, how many governors did APC have? By 2023, how many governors did we have?

”I was the only non-PDP governor in the South-South from 2012 to 2016 when I left office. What is it today? So that dynamism doesn’t suggest that it favours voting. Atiku is now more battle-weary.

“Don’t forget my background is textile and garment. When a fabric is weak and you keep sewing it, at a point, it makes sense to throw it away.”

Continuing his criticism, the APC lawmaker mocked Atiku’s frequent travels abroad, suggesting he lacks the consistency and grassroots connection required to win a presidential election.

He said, “This man Nigerians are worrying about and wasting precious time on is not electable. People with two addresses? After the election, you will go to Dubai. On the eve of the election, you come to find out who is paying a visit to a bereaved family.”

Oshiomhole’s remarks come amid intensifying speculation about a potential Atiku–Obi reunion, following hints from both camps about forming a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Talks of a renewed alliance between the two opposition leaders first gained traction on December 1, 2024, when their aides denied reports that they were discussing a joint ticket for 2027. Social media had buzzed with claims of a reunion after photos of Atiku hosting Obi to breakfast at his residence in Adamawa State went viral.

Since then, the idea of a possible partnership has continued to dominate political discourse. On August 20, 2025, a chieftain of the APC, Dominic Alancha, warned that an Atiku–Obi alliance could pose a serious challenge to the ruling party’s chances in 2027.

However, political analysts say such an alliance could face hurdles, including personality clashes, trust issues, and divergent ideological leanings, which previously led to their split after the 2019 elections.