The All Progressives Congress, on Tuesday, dismissed the potential merger talk between the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar and the standard-bearer of the Labour Party in the election, Peter Obi.

It described Atiku and Obi as desperate politicians who could not be trusted with power.

The ruling party also said it had no doubt the meeting between the two opposition candidates would amount to nothing, saying it was being fuelled by a mutual desperation to ensure President Bola Tinubu did not return to office in 2027.

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja, titled “Atiku, Obi united by mutual desperation.”

Recall that Obi, on May 13, visited Atiku at his Abuja residence and the duo met behind closed doors with the viral photographs of the visit on social media. Atiku later revealed this on his X handle, saying, “It was my honour and privilege to host #PeterObi today.”

Obi, the same day, also met with two chieftains of the PDP, the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the erstwhile governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.

In 2019, both Atiku and Obi ran on the PDP joint ticket but were defeated by the former President, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

In the run-up to the 2023 election, Obi left the PDP for the Labour Party and emerged as the standard-bearer, while Atiku contested the election on the ticket of the PDP. The two were defeated by President Tinubu of the APC.

After the Supreme Court affirmed Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 election, Atiku called for unity among major opposition parties, stating his readiness to lead a coalition against Tinubu in 2027.

Reacting on Tuesday to the planned coalition, Morka acknowledged that the meeting of the political allies had further heightened the speculations of a possible alliance between both men and their political parties ahead of 2027.

The APC spokesman, however, maintained that it was unclear whether Obi would be willing to make a comeback to Atiku’s PDP or whether the latter would agree to dump his party to seek “rehabilitation” in Obi’s Labour Party.

He said, “The news of Peter Obi’s return to the PDP would be hardly surprising. His reputation as a political wayfarer is only dwarfed by Atiku’s track record as a veteran political wanderer.

“News of Atiku joining the Labour Party will shock no one as he will be living up to his well-established reputation as the country’s most itinerant politician.

“For now, Utomi’s mega party remains a figment with no offering of tangible accommodation for both men.

“Atiku and Obi are united by their mutual desperation to be President of Nigeria and the ignoble disdain for President Bola Tinubu’s focused and extraordinary commitment to the transformation of our nation.

“Their restless drift in search of convenient party platforms to execute their presidential run only belies the self-indulgent and opportunistic essence of their aspirations.”

He said by their character, Nigerians could not trust both Atiku and Obi with power, as they would not be able to handle national challenges.

“Men without the staying power to build or fix their own parties, who flee at the slightest flicker of internal crisis, cannot possibly be trusted by Nigerians to tackle serious and complex national, political and economic challenges that confront our nation.

“We urge Nigerians to stand fast in their invaluable support of our great party and President Bola Tinubu’s determined commitment to deliver a stronger, secure and more prosperous country for us all,” the party spokesman said.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, and his successor, Nyesom Wike, to settle their differences and work together.

Jonathan spoke on Monday during the flag-off of Trans-Kalabari road in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers.

The former president said the political tension in the state owing to the feud between Wike and Fubara is not helpful.

He called on the two politicians to “ceasefire” and work together for the success of the state, adding that Rivers is the “heart” of the Niger Delta region.

The former president said issues involving the transition of power have been causing controversy in states, unlike at the federal level.

“The political tension in the state is becoming so much,” Jonathan said.

“In this state, Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara must work together for the development of the land and the people of Rivers state.

“The tension will not help us. Rivers state is very critical in this country. It is the heart of the Niger Delta.

“If Rivers state is destabilised, the whole Niger Delta will be destabilised.

“There is a common saying that when two elephants are fighting, the grass suffers. Both the governor and our ministers are young people and powerful.

“If they continue to fight, the Rivers people will suffer. We are calling them to embrace themselves.”

Since 2023, Fubara and Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), have been at loggerheads over political control of the state.

The rift has led to the polarisation of the Rivers state house of assembly.

The commissioners loyal to Wike have resigned from Fubara’s cabinet.

Recently, Wike apologised for backing Fubara to succeed him as governor, adding that he would correct that mistake in 2027.

Subsequently, Fubara said a judicial panel of inquiry would be set up to investigate the management of the state’s resources and affairs under past administrations.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has said the congress was not aware of merger talks involving the Labour Party with some political parties in the country.

The LP, which is a socio-democratic political party, was founded by the organised labour.

There have been speculations about the possibility of a merger between the LP and the Peoples Democratic Party, following the meeting between the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the presidential candidate of the PDP in the election, Atiku Abubakar.

Obi also reportedly met with some PDP stalwarts in Abuja, including a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.

In 2019, both Atiku and Obi ran on the PDP joint ticket but were defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

However, due to internal conflict within the PDP, Obi left the party in 2022 and contested the 2023 presidential election as the candidate of the Labour Party.

Speaking after the meeting with Obi on Monday, May 13, 2024, Atiku said party members would decide their fate in the 2027 general elections, adding that if the PDP decided in 2027 that it was the turn of the South-East to field the presidential candidate and selected Obi, he would readily offer his support.

The former vice president mentioned that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.

When asked if the NLC would support merger talks that would make the LP cease to exist or if the organised labour would be involved in any merger talks involving the party, Ajaero said, “We are not aware of such talks.”