Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Thursday held a private meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, fueling fresh speculation about possible political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi, who revealed the visit in a post on his official X handle, described Jonathan as his “elder brother, a statesman, and leader,” adding that their closed-door discussions were “fruitful” and centered on national issues.
“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,” Obi wrote.
Although details of the discussions were not disclosed, the meeting comes at a time when conversations about Nigeria’s political direction and governance under President Bola Tinubu are gaining momentum.
Jonathan, who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, has in recent years played prominent roles in mediation and peace-building across Africa, positioning himself as a respected continental statesman.
Obi, meanwhile, has sustained consultations with stakeholders following his strong performance in the 2023 presidential race, where he finished third behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Abuja meeting is the latest in Obi’s series of high-profile engagements, which many observers believe could signal the early formation of a new political coalition.
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.
The development also comes amid speculations of Jonathan’s possible return to active politics, especially after the PDP recently zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South. Reports have also suggested that the opposition party has been wooing Obi to return to its fold, with some party leaders viewing him as a formidable contender capable of mounting a strong challenge against President Tinubu in 2027.