Obi, Atiku, Kwankwaso reportedly in talks for a merger to wrestle power from Tinubu

Reports indicate that former Presidential candidates, namely Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Peter Obi, have initiated discussions exploring the potential of merging their political efforts. The primary objective of this merger is to establish a robust political party capable of effectively challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and striving for power.

According to Thisday, the discussions among these prominent political figures have been ongoing for a period. The initial interactions began with a meeting between Atiku, who stood as the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the previous presidential election. Following the success of the initial discussions, the inclusion of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), along with other key figures within the PDP, started to take shape as a subsequent step, with consensus from the two initial stakeholders.

The discussions are currently in their early stages and are anchored on two fundamental aspects. As per the report, the first pillar revolves around the decision of the three leaders to await the outcomes of election petition cases in court. This outcome will play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of their decision-making, should the court’s ruling not align with their expectations.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the leaders are optimistic that the presidential election tribunal will render a verdict that is fair and just. Their hope rests on the possibility that the tribunal will recognize that the election that brought President Bola Tinubu into office does not withstand a thorough electoral assessment. As a result, they anticipate that the tribunal might call for a re-election or a rerun, thus presenting a second opportunity for them to unite through a merger and challenge both Tinubu and the APC.