An erstwhile member of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Yusuf, has downplayed the possibility of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, merging with his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi.
Yusuf said Atiku’s remark after the meeting about contesting for the presidency makes the possibility of a merger difficult.
Recall that Obi had met with Atiku, a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; and Sule Lamido last week.
Despite the meeting sparking the possibility of a merger following a coalition call by Atiku, the former Vice President had vowed to keep contesting for the Presidency as long as he’s healthy.
Speaking after the meeting, Obi said he’s not interested in a merger that seeks political powers but one that would salvage Nigerians from poverty.
However, appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Yusuf said: “They have worked together before in 2019. It would not be out of place if they work together again. I am not in their minds but I don’t see the possibility.
“They met a few days ago and after the meeting, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came out to say he will continue to contest as long as he’s alive and healthy.
“To me, that was to send a signal to those, especially the media, who were running with the notion that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar might step down and shelve his political ambition for Peter. But the follow-up statement a week later clarified that.”
2027: I don’t see possibility – Ex-Reps member Yusuf on Atiku, Peter Obi merger