Next Year: Dele Momodu Claims Peter Obi Boasted of Surpassing Atiku in Popularity

Chief Dele Momodu, a media entrepreneur, has shed light on Peter Obi's decision to reject a potential political alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election, citing Obi's belief in his own superior popularity.

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Momodu shared this revelation during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he discussed his conversations with Obi about a possible collaboration with Atiku.

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According to Momodu, he had advised Obi to consider joining forces with Atiku, highlighting the examples of political leaders who had risen to prominence after serving as vice presidents.

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Momodu recalled suggesting to Obi, "Why don’t you go and work with Atiku, the person who brought you to national prominence?"

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He noted that Atiku's decision to choose Obi as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election had not been universally accepted within the PDP, with the governors reportedly unhappy with the choice.

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Momodu described Atiku as a focused individual who stands by his decisions, saying, "Once he makes up his mind, he’s a very focused man."

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Momodu presented Obi with various examples of politicians who had leveraged deputy positions to attain higher office, including the case of Mahama, who served as VP to Prof Atta Mills in Ghana.

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He also cited the example of Jonathan in Nigeria and Joe Biden in America, who became president after serving in deputy roles, demonstrating their capacity for leadership.

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Despite these examples, Obi remained unconvinced by Momodu's argument, with the media entrepreneur stating, "Peter told me he’s more popular than Atiku."

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Momodu, the publisher of Ovation International, revealed that Obi's confidence in his own popularity was a key factor in his decision to decline the proposed alliance with Atiku.