If Atiku Emerged as ADC Candidate & Picked Obi As VP, PBAT Will Find No Clear Road To Victory-Rochas

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Arch Uche Rochas, has offered his perspective on the possible outcomes of the 2027 presidential election, linking the prospects of opposition success to strategic alignment between key political figures.

In a post shared on his X account on Sunday, February 1, 2026, Rochas argued that political success is often determined less by personal ambition and more by effective alliances.

He suggested that the direction taken by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could decisively shape the next presidential race.

“Political destiny often turns not on ambition alone, but on alignment,” Rochas wrote. “If Atiku Abubakar were to emerge from the ADC primaries and extend his hand to Peter Obi as a vice-presidential partner, PBAT would find no clear road to victory. Such a union would fundamentally reshape the political landscape.”

Rochas also outlined an alternative scenario in which Obi secures the ADC ticket.

“Should Peter Obi instead win the primaries and select a formidable northern ally, with Atiku Abubakar offering his full support, the contest would be arduous,” he noted.

He added that President Tinubu could again rely on a Muslim–Muslim ticket, making the race “intense and finely balanced,” but maintained that sustained organisation and commitment could tilt the outcome in Obi’s favour. 

“Through discipline, endurance, and relentless effort, Obi would prevail,” Rochas said.

However, the PDP chieftain warned that a divided opposition would all but guarantee victory for the incumbent.

“If, after the primaries, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi choose divergent paths, the outcome becomes almost predetermined,” he wrote.

“The president would enjoy a walkover, and the window of history would quietly close, suggesting that the moment for both men to attain the presidency may pass without return.”