By Our Correspondent

A fresh political move ahead of the 2027 presidential election could change the shape of Nigeria’s opposition battle, as former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Salihu Lukman, revealed that a proposal is being pushed for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to consider presenting one presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu.

Lukman disclosed this during an interview on Arise News, saying the proposal is aimed at bringing the opposition forces together and creating a united platform ahead of the election.

According to him, the objective is not for either Atiku or Obi to simply emerge as a candidate, but to determine who has the strongest chance of winning the presidency.

He stressed that the decision must be reached through an agreement between the two camps based on clear and acceptable criteria, rather than through public declarations or pressure from supporters.

“The ultimate objective is that we want to have one candidate, but it cannot be by declaration. They have to sit down and agree on the criteria they are going to apply in determining that candidate,” Lukman said.

He argued that opposition politicians should recognise that their primary political opponent is the APC and Tinubu, rather than one another.

Lukman said a united structure would enable Atiku and Obi to work together and ultimately present Nigerians with a single opposition candidate capable of mounting a strong challenge in 2027.

He further questioned whether the politicians merely want to contest the election or are genuinely interested in winning the presidency.

According to him, the opposition must be prepared to make difficult compromises if it wants to defeat the ruling party.

“We believe Nigerians deserve better,” Lukman said, adding that the 2027 election should provide Nigerians with a credible alternative they can confidently support.

The proposal, if accepted, could trigger fresh negotiations within the opposition camp and potentially reshape the 2027 presidential contest.

For now, however, both Atiku and Obi would have to agree on the conditions and process for selecting the proposed single candidate before the plan can become a reality.