The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Thursday held a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.
Obi, in a post on his official X handle, described Jonathan as his “elder brother, statesman, and leader,” noting that their discussions were focused on the state of the nation. He wrote: “Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation.”
Though details of the meeting were not disclosed, the development comes amid heightened political consultations and debates over Nigeria’s future direction under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Jonathan, who governed Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, has in recent years played prominent roles in mediation, conflict resolution, and democratic strengthening across Africa.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has continued to meet political stakeholders. Thursday’s engagement is the latest in a string of consultations that observers say could signal the beginnings of a new political coalition ahead of 2027.
Speculation has also intensified following the PDP’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South. There are reports that the party has been wooing Obi to return, seeing him as a formidable contender capable of challenging Tinubu.
Efforts to get comments from Obi’s former campaign spokesman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, and leaders of the Obidient Movement were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
