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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Forum for Democratic Patriots (FDP) has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to shelve their presidential ambitions and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The group said the opposition’s ongoing permutations over who should step down for a joint ticket showed that none of the three had the nationwide acceptability, political network and electoral strength to defeat Tinubu.
In a statement by its Convener, Hon. Sani Ibrahim, the FDP cited Kwankwaso’s call for Atiku to quit the race and reports of a possible Atiku-Obi ticket as evidence of division within the opposition.
“The FDP, after careful observation, concluded that the opposition’s exchanges over who should quit the 2027 race are the clearest proof that none of them has the capacity, pedigree, acceptability and nationwide network to win the presidential election come 2027,” Ibrahim said.
He acknowledged Atiku’s political pedigree, noting that he had contested the presidency in 1993, 2007, 2019 and 2023, and served as Vice-President.
However, Ibrahim urged him to retire from presidential contests, arguing that Atiku would be 80 by 2027.
“The presidency is a rigorous, demanding assignment, not a retirement stool,” he said, urging Atiku to embrace his role as an elder statesman and provide non-partisan counsel.
The FDP also dismissed the reported proposal for Obi to serve as Atiku’s running mate, describing it as an arrangement unlikely to deliver victory.
The group commended Tinubu’s administration for its economic reforms, particularly foreign exchange market unification and tax restructuring, which it said were aimed at stabilising the economy and improving revenue.
Ibrahim also cited the administration’s expansion of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, student loan programme and social safety-net schemes as evidence of its reform agenda.
“While these reforms have demanded short-term sacrifice, they are already yielding results and remain essential to sustainable national prosperity.
“Nigeria needs focus and continuity to harvest the fruits of these policy shifts, not political distraction,” he said.
