Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has linked the growing political differences between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to what he described as a struggle for dominance within the opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Keyamo made the assertion while reacting to separate Independence Day broadcasts delivered by Atiku and Obi following President Bola Tinubu’s address to Nigerians on October 1.
According to the minister, the disagreement between the two opposition figures goes beyond their criticism of the Tinubu administration.
He alleged that Atiku and Obi are engaged in what he called a “huge ego battle” and that there is “subdued bitterness” between the two politicians and their supporters.
Keyamo said the inability of the two politicians to work together, despite efforts to bring them together, had contributed to their current rivalry.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not the problem of these gentlemen. There is a huge ego battle between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi,” Keyamo said in a post on X.
“There is also a subdued bitterness between them and their supporters. Since they could not work together despite all entreaties, both men think they have a point to prove to each other.”
The minister further claimed that the rivalry was partly about determining who should emerge as the leading opposition figure capable of challenging the ruling party in 2027.
He said both politicians appeared determined to demonstrate who represents the stronger opposition force and who would occupy what he described as the “second spot” in the forthcoming presidential contest.
The comments followed separate reactions from Atiku and Obi to Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast.
Tinubu had used his address to highlight the government’s economic reforms and declare that Nigeria had passed through a difficult period and was moving towards prosperity.
Atiku subsequently criticised the administration’s economic policies and questioned some of the promises made by the President, while Obi also offered his assessment of the state of the country.
The political realignment among opposition figures has continued to shape preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku and Obi emerging as prominent figures in the efforts to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.
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