Aisha Yesufu Slams Calls for Obi to Be Running Mate, Cites 2014 APC Strategy

Activist and political commentator Aisha Yesufu has taken a firm stand against suggestions that Peter Obi should serve as a running mate in any future political coalition, specifically one with Atiku Abubakar, labelling such proposals as misguided and politically shortsighted.

In a strongly worded post shared on X on Monday, Yesufu wrote:

“Let me repeat what I had said before: You have been parroting that coalition is the way to go and that Peter Obi should be running mate to Atiku, and you think you are the genius political strategist!”

She went further to draw parallels with Nigeria’s 2014 political landscape, referencing the APC alliance that brought President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to power:

“What did you think APC and Osinbajo being running mate was all about in 2014? With a Buhari who has antecedents of delegating, and Osinbajo, who even started the campaign before Buhari? The reason I voted for APC in 2015 was because of Prof Osinbajo. It still took me up to February before I finally came to terms with voting for Gen Buhari, which I had said after the 2011 riots is a NO NO! Gen Buhari is known to never work but delegate, yet Osinbajo became a toothless collaborator.
A vice President is worse than a spare tyre. It is the spare tyre left at home.

“Also, I have found it interesting how some have been seeing ElRufai as an option. That’s how GEJ canonised Buhari. The same Atiku that you are clamouring for today was what many hoped would win the APC primaries in 2014,, not Buhari!

“Many did not vote for Buhari; they voted for the coalition, and it became a disaster. Do you want that to be repeated?

“Osibanjo as President and Buhari as VP would have worked better for Nigeria than what we had!

“10 years later, do you still want to put the best foot forward? Haba!”

Yesufu’s comments came after the media group of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar announced that an agreement had been reached by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to run a one-term ticket in 2027, with the former leading the coalition.

A rumour that the Obidient Movement shut down in a statement signed by Nana Kazaure, the Director of Strategic Communication and Media, stating that Mr Peter Obi’s position on leadership remains rooted in service to the people.