Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, has rejected rumours that former vice president Atiku Abubakar and former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi could run on a combined ticket to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the general election of 2027.
Musawa evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of prominent opposition figures ahead of the upcoming election cycle in an interview that was aired on The Mic On Podcast and posted on Instagram on Saturday.
The minister acknowledged Atiku’s political prominence but maintained that the former vice president would not be able to defeat the ruling party in 2027.
According to Musawa, even a merger of political forces through an Atiku–Obi ticket would not significantly improve the opposition’s chances.
“I don’t think he’s a match even if Atiku and Peter come together,” she stated.
She further warned that such an arrangement could deepen divisions within the opposition, particularly among supporters of Peter Obi, many of whom may resist the idea of their preferred candidate playing a subordinate role.
“That kind of ticket is likely to upset a lot of Obidients,” Musawa said, noting that many of Obi’s supporters have been clear about their reluctance to back him as a vice-presidential candidate. “Some people will have to reconsider positions they once held.”
Musawa also suggested that reversing the roles on the ticket would be even more damaging for the opposition.
“If Peter Obi is presented as the presidential candidate instead, that would be the quickest way for the opposition to lose the election,” she said. “I say that very honestly.”
Her comments come amid ongoing debates within opposition circles as Obi’s supporters insist the coalition-backed Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) must present their principal as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Meanwhile, the ADC has warned Obi’s supporters against divisive rhetoric’s, emphasising that their narrative about the party’s presidential candidacy will only benefit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
