…To Do One Term and Back Obi For 2031 Presidency
…To Push Constitutional Guarantee for Zoning
…ADC’s South East Leaders Back Decision
By Jeremy Fregene
Fresh details have emerged over what insiders describe as a historic political deal between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to authoritative sources who spoke to KTH Daily, Atiku has secured a preliminary understanding with Obi to rally behind his candidature on the platform of the All Democratic Congress (ADC). In exchange, Atiku has reportedly offered “ironclad guarantees” that he will back Obi to succeed him in 2031, after serving a single term in office.
Our source, a long-standing associate of the former vice president, disclosed that Atiku’s plan is not only to serve for one term but to champion a constitutional amendment that will institutionalise a single five- or six-year presidential tenure. The rationale, the source explained, is to reduce the distractions of second-term politics and ensure a predictable transfer of power. Obi, under the arrangement, would be positioned as the first beneficiary of this amended single-term presidency in 2031. To further reassure Obi and his supporters, Atiku is said to have committed to pushing for a constitutional guarantee on zoning, which has historically remained a gentleman’s agreement within political parties rather than a binding national principle. Under this framework, the South East would take the first southern slot in 2031, with Obi as the consensus candidate.
Backing this pact, our source listed several South East leaders of the ADC as active participants in the discussions. Among them are former Imo State governors Emeka Ihedioha and Achike Udenwa, as well as former Ebonyi State governor Sam Egwu, alongside other prominent regional figures. These leaders are believed to be instrumental in persuading Obi to align with Atiku, framing the deal as the most pragmatic pathway to delivering the South East presidency after decades of marginalization.
The Obi-dient Movement, which electrified Nigeria’s 2023 elections with its massive youth-driven mobilisation, remains a formidable force. By agreeing to work with Atiku, Obi could deliver not only grassroots energy but also national credibility to the ADC’s ticket. Analysts note that this would provide Atiku with the kind of political base he has historically struggled to consolidate in the South East. So far, Obi is said to be “amenable” to the proposal, though no formal declaration has been made. Should he endorse Atiku in both the ADC primaries and the general election, it could mark a dramatic realignment in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
The source strongly denied reports that Atiku was also exploring a power-sharing deal with former President Goodluck Jonathan, which would have seen Jonathan return in 2027 to complete the South’s current tenure, and then hand over to Atiku in 2031. “I can tell you this is not true,” the insider insisted. “By 2031, our principal will be 84 years old. Yes, he is very sound physically and mentally. But I personally think that will be pushing things too far.”
Despite speculations that Atiku might step aside in 2027 in favour of Obi, our source made clear that such an option has been repeatedly dismissed within Atiku’s inner circle. “The issue of Atiku not running in 2027 has come up within our circle and each time he has strongly repudiated the idea. So, sorry, he is running in 2027, and so far he is not considering waiting for 2031,” the source said.
Atiku’s pursuit of the presidency has spanned over three decades, with campaigns in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. Obi, by contrast, emerged as a formidable challenger only in 2023, galvanising millions of young Nigerians frustrated with the old order. A partnership between the two men could recalibrate Nigeria’s political map: Atiku bringing his northern political structure and Obi mobilising the South East and urban youth. Both under the ADC, a party positioning itself as an alternative to the ruling APC and the still-divided PDP, this alliance could reshape the 2027 race.
Political watchers say the success of such a deal will depend on whether Atiku can credibly assure Obi and his movement that the 2031 handover is guaranteed, and whether the ADC can build enough national spread to mount a serious challenge to President Tinubu’s APC. For now, what is clear is that behind closed doors, Nigeria’s opposition is negotiating its future, with Atiku and Obi at the heart of the drama.