A claim circulating on social media that former vice-president Atiku Abubakar has offered to abandon his presidential ambition for Peter Obi if Rabiu Kwankwaso withdraws from a running-mate position has not been substantiated by available reports.
The claim suggests that Atiku would step aside for Obi under an arrangement that would allow the African Democratic Congress to produce a vice-presidential candidate if Kwankwaso vacated the position.
A graphic carrying the alleged statement, “I will step down for Peter Obi if Kwankwaso will step away as vice so ADC can produce the vice-presidential candidate,” was shared by Oloh Achunike in the Facebook group Nigeria News – Headlines Today.
A similar claim was posted on X on October 19 by a user identified as Abu Amir, with the handle @SadiqMaunde, alongside a suggestion that Atiku was preparing to make way for an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, popularly referred to as the “OK ticket”.
However, the claim differs from Atiku’s previously reported position on the selection of a presidential candidate within the opposition coalition.
Atiku’s earlier position on the ADC ticket
In April 2026, Atiku expressed his willingness to support whoever emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate during an interview with Arise Television.
Asked whether he would withdraw from the race if Obi secured the party’s ticket, the former vice-president said the party could choose its candidate through consensus or an electoral process and that he would support the eventual winner.
“Yes, I will step aside for any winner,” Atiku had said.
When asked specifically whether he would do so if Obi emerged as the candidate, he replied, “Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”
At the time, Obi was still a member of the ADC and was expected to seek its presidential ticket, but he defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress in May 2026.
Although Atiku’s earlier remarks indicated a willingness to support another aspirant who won the ADC ticket, they did not establish that he had agreed to step aside under the specific conditions contained in the circulating social media posts.
Atiku’s spokesman addresses coalition talks
Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, had said that no aspirant should be compelled to withdraw from the presidential race, while confirming that efforts were ongoing within the opposition coalition to pursue a consensus arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“No one should be forced to step down. Yes, the coalition group is at work to ensure that the opposition maximises the historic opportunity of the 2027 elections,” Ibe said.
“The infrastructure provided by the coalition group would eventually pave the way for the candidates to reach and embrace a consensus on the issue.”
Ibe’s comments acknowledged discussions aimed at securing agreement among opposition candidates but did not confirm that Atiku had offered to step down for Obi on the condition that Kwankwaso vacated a vice-presidential position.
Separately, an ADC chieftain and convenor of G100, Salihu Lukman, said on October 16 that opposition parties were making progress towards forming an alliance ahead of the general election.
Verdict
Reports reviewed did not provide evidence supporting the claim that Atiku had said he would step down for Obi if Kwankwaso withdrew from the NDC’s vice-presidential position.
While Atiku has previously stated that he would support whoever emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate, no substantiated evidence in the reports reviewed establishes the specific conditional arrangement circulated on social media.
