A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has strongly dismissed reports of a political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reports had emerged suggesting that Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had reached an agreement with Obi, his Labour Party counterpart. According to these reports, Obi allegedly agreed to serve as Atiku's running mate for a single term, indicating that the former vice president intends to serve just one tenure if elected.

Reacting to these claims in a Facebook post on Monday, Igbokwe categorically rejected the possibility of such an alliance succeeding. The APC chieftain, known for his support of President Bola Tinubu, described the reported deal as "laughable" and "kindergarten."

"Alhaji Atiku Abubakar childish and primitive deal with Labour Party is laughable and kindergarten," Igbokwe wrote. "It is an act of desperation. It cannot fly and it cannot sell."

The reported alliance comes as opposition parties appear to be strategizing on how to challenge the ruling APC in the next general elections. Political analysts have suggested that a united opposition front might be necessary to present a formidable challenge to the incumbent party in 2027.

Neither Atiku Abubakar nor Peter Obi has officially confirmed or denied these alliance rumors as of the time of this report. Both politicians contested separately in the 2023 presidential election, with Obi breaking away from the PDP to run under the Labour Party platform.

The 2027 presidential race is expected to heat up in the coming months as various political figures begin positioning themselves for what promises to be another keenly contested election in Nigeria's democratic journey.