Obi made the clarification on Friday night in Cape Town, South Africa, during the Spier Dialogue 2026, a governance forum focused on African political and policy discussions.
Responding to questions about political alignment and perceived tension, he said there was no avoidance between him and Atiku, describing their personal and political ties as longstanding.
“There are very few human beings who are as close as I am to Atiku. So I can’t be running from him. This man is my very respected leader and elder brother,” he said.
He added that his political conduct is guided by personal approach rather than avoidance of individuals.
“I don’t run from him. Never. It has nothing to do with running from anybody. I’ve never run from anybody. I just believe that I do things differently,” Obi said.
The clarification comes months after both politicians were linked to coalition talks under the platform of the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general election.
Obi formally joined the party on January 1, 2026, a move that Atiku publicly described as a strengthening of opposition coordination against President Bola Tinubu.
The arrangement later broke down following internal disputes and legal disagreements within the party structure. Obi later exited the ADC alongside Rabiu Kwankwaso and moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, citing concerns over litigation-driven internal politics.
