Filmmaker and political activist Dickson Iroegbu has said Peter Obi delayed declaring his interest in the 2023 presidential election out of respect for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following their alliance in the 2019 election.
Speaking on Mic On Podcast on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Iroegbu said, “Peter Obi gave everything to the contest they got involved in back in 2019, and he delayed declaring his interest for 2023 out of respect for Atiku Abubakar.”
He argued that Obi’s decision was intended to preserve opposition unity ahead of the party’s presidential primaries and reflected a rare level of political loyalty.
Iroegbu further claimed that the political landscape changed after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) abandoned its zoning arrangement, saying the failure to micro-zone the presidential ticket weakened the party’s support in the South.
He urged Nigerians to assess political leaders based on their track records and emphasised that mutual respect and consistency are essential for building sustainable political alliances ahead of future elections.
