Photo: Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and current Presidential Flagbearer of the ADC - Premium Times Nigeria
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Claim: A post circulating on Threads claims that former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stepped down in favour of Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in an effort to unite the opposition and defeat President Bola Tinubu.
Verdict: The claim is false. Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, directly dismissed the claim as “fake news… Not on the menu.” DUBAWA also found no official announcement from Atiku confirming such a decision.
Full Text
A claim circulating on Threads alleges that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has decided to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi in a bid to defeat President Bola Tinubu. Similar posts were made here, here, here, and here.
The claim, with its multiple shares, has had over 1,000 engagements.
It also comes against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations and political discussions among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 election. Atiku and Peter Obi are both prominent figures in the opposition political landscape, making claims about a possible alliance particularly susceptible to misinterpretation and rapid online circulation.
Given Atiku’s prominent role in Nigeria’s opposition politics and the potential significance of such a decision, DUBAWA investigated the claim.
Verification
DUBAWA reviewed statements from Atiku Abubakar’s media team concerning the claim.
His media Adviser and aide, Paul Ibe, dismissed the report, describing it as “fake news… Not on the menu.” This directly contradicts the claim that Atiku has decided to step down for Peter Obi.
DUBAWA also reviewed the official communication channels and social media handles of Atiku Abubakar and the ADC Party and found no such information or decision. No announcement regarding a withdrawal or endorsement was published on any of these handles.
Further checks suggest that the claim may have been amplified by a song by Haruna Goroh urging Atiku to step down so Peter Obi can defeat President Tinubu. Such a call or political expression is different from an official decision by Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 race. The wording may therefore have been taken out of its original context and presented as though it represented an actual announcement by the former Vice President.
In October 2025, Atiku’s media aide also clarified reports that the former Vice President intended to step down for another presidential aspirant. Paul Ibe said a review of Atiku’s interview showed he had neither stated nor implied that he intended to step down for anyone.
DUBAWA also found an earlier interview on Arise News – “Arise Exclusive with Atiku Abubakar” in which he expressed willingness to support whoever emerges as the winner of the coalition’s candidacy, which is different from announcing that he has withdrawn specifically in favour of Peter Obi and the fact that he is now the Presidential Candidate of the party ahead of the 2027 election. Also reporting on the current claim, including a discussion by TVC News Nigeria, which addressed the allegation and reported that Atiku had not withdrawn in favour of Peter Obi.
Conclusion
DUBAWA found no evidence that Atiku Abubakar has stepped down for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election. His media aide, Paul Ibe, has dismissed the claim as fake news, and further verification indicates it may have originated from a political song or a call for Atiku to support Obi, rather than an actual decision by Atiku.
