Former House of Representatives member Tajudeen Yusuf has played down the likelihood of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), joining forces with Peter Obi, the candidate for the Labour Party.
According to Yusuf, Atiku’s statement during the discussion regarding running for president makes a merger unlikely.
Recall that last week, Obi met with Atiku, Sule Lamido, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The former vice president had promised to continue running for president as long as he is well, even though the meeting raised the prospect of a merger in response to Atiku’s appeal for a coalition.
Following the meeting, Obi stated that he is more interested in a merger that would lift Nigerians out of poverty than one that aims to acquire political power.
But Yusuf stated during his appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television: “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.”
