Atiku still hopeful of building a coalition with Obi and Kwankwaso against Tinubu

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is extending an olive branch to two of his opponents in this month's presidential elections Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso asking them to support his ambition in exchange for working together.

On February 25, Nigeria goes to the polls to elect a new president. In the presidential race, the frontrunners include former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor of the Labour Party.

With many commentators expecting the contest to be a two-horse race between Asiwaju Tinubu and Alhaji Abubakar, it appears the former vice president is looking to build a coalition with some of his opponents. Speaking during a 15-minute interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Alhaji Abubakar said both Governor Obi and Senator Kwankwaso are not a threat to his chances of winning at the February 25 poll.

Alhaji Abubakar added: “Although, I see no threat in any of them but we are in talks, and the discussion might yield a positive result that will see one of them coming. Each party has its internal crisis, we are still talking with them.

"Most are neither in PDP nor in other parties and definitely that will not make us lose the election because we are okay with the election preparations for now. Election now is not like in the past when a governor will dictate who to vote for, election today is in the hands of the voters.”