Aiyedatiwa Urges Atiku, Peter Obi to Step Down for Tinubu’s Reelection

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favor of President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid.

Speaking during a political gathering in Ado Ekiti, Aiyedatiwa said it was time for opposition leaders to prioritize national unity and stability over personal ambition. He stated that all 23 governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are firmly behind President Tinubu and committed to supporting his second-term bid.

“President Tinubu is doing well and deserves a second term. We, the APC governors, are fully in support. We are ready, and we are starting early in the South West,” Aiyedatiwa declared.

The governor also used the opportunity to express support for Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s reelection, urging APC members to mobilize across all 16 local government areas of the state for a landslide victory in the next elections.

However, the call has sparked mixed reactions. While APC leaders and supporters welcomed the statement as a show of party loyalty and strategic alignment, critics argue that it undermines the democratic process and the right of opposition figures to contest.

Peter Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election, has maintained his interest in contesting again in 2027. Atiku Abubakar, the runner-up in the same race, has also hinted at a possible return to the ballot, although no official declaration has been made.

Both opposition figures have yet to publicly respond to Aiyedatiwa’s remarks.

As political alignments for the 2027 elections begin to take shape, the governor’s statement underscores the APC’s strategy to consolidate early support across regions, particularly in the South West.