Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), yesterday met in Abuja amid growing permutations over a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The two prominent southern politicians have dominated discussions in recent weeks as potential challengers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Although Obi remains in the Labour Party, he has been associating with the coalition spearheaded by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Jonathan, still technically a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has not played an active role in the party since losing his re-election bid in 2015.
Details of Thursday’s meeting were not made public, but Obi, a former Anambra State governor, posted pictures on his official X handle, saying their discussion centred on national issues and the state of the country.
He wrote: “Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan @GEJonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation. – PO.”
Sources familiar with the meeting told Daily Trust that the engagement was a continuation of earlier conversations between the two leaders on the permutations for 2027.
“This is the third or fourth time they’ve met since around Easter, but all the previous meetings were kept under wraps. The crux has been who should step down for the other as the coalition’s presidential candidate,” one of the sources said.
Both men were said to have acknowledged that they share the same political base, and a separate bid by each could hand Tinubu an easy victory.
“You know the bulk of the votes Obi secured in 2023 came from the South, particularly the South East and South South, and also the traditional Middlebelt, which had also been Jonathan’s stronghold in 2011. They realised they cannot afford to approach the next election independently.
“Another matter is the platform. Many PDP leaders have been appealing to Jonathan to fly the party’s flag, but he is wary of the internal crisis. He is waiting for assurances,” the source added.
According to the source, Obi’s camp has also raised concerns about being sidelined in the coalition they helped build.
“The ADC has not been able to fully convince the Obidient Movement that the party was not structured to deliver an Atiku presidency,” he said.
These concerns were also part of Thursday’s conversation, with sources close to Jonathan indicating that a resolution may soon be reached.
‘Jonathan’s appeal to northern electorates gives him edge’
Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 and conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election, has largely stayed away from partisan politics. In 2023, a group bought him a presidential nomination form under the ruling APC, but he rejected the move.
Now, the PDP is keen to draw him back, with senior figures, including current and former governors, involved in discreet negotiations. The ADC is also considering him as an option.
A former governor from the North told Daily Trust that Jonathan’s eligibility to serve only one more term under the constitution is his main selling point to northern leaders.
“The discussion with him is at an advanced stage. He has asked us for assurances, and that’s what we’re working on as we approach our convention in Ibadan,” he said.
He added: “Most leaders believe Jonathan would be easier to sell to northern voters than Obi, who can still seek re-election.
“With 10 years of APC, it’s easy to prove that life was better under PDP. And who was the last PDP president? Jonathan. Many of us knew he wasn’t the problem; what turned people against him was his decision to renege on the 2011 gentleman’s agreement not to seek re-election. That’s why we think he’s still the opposition’s best chance to dislodge this government that has caused so much pain.”
According to him, with leaders rallying behind Jonathan, they expect Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde “to fall in line.”
Obi’s dilemma
Daily Trust gathered that Obi’s situation is complicated. He has reportedly been offered the vice-presidential slot by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to seek the ADC ticket if it remains open.
Obi was Atiku’s running mate in 2019 when they lost to Buhari. Their joint 11.2 million votes in 2019 were split in 2023, when they contested separately. Tinubu won with 8.7 million votes, while Atiku and Obi polled 6.9 million and 6.1 million, respectively.
Sources said discussions with Atiku revolve around Obi joining as running mate in 2027, with a pledge that Atiku would serve only one term and support Obi in 2031.
But this proposal has not gone down well with Obi’s camp, who argue that the mood of the country favours a Southern candidate in 2027 and fear Atiku’s one-term pledge may not hold. Obi himself has promised to serve only one term if nominated, but coalition leaders remain sceptical.
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, a coalition leader, said last week on Channels TV: “On the question of people saying, ‘I will do one term,’ I don’t think anyone believes them. It’s not right to constitutionally give up what is yours. Four years is not enough to make meaningful change in government, as those of us who have governed know.
“I want to appeal to everyone to stop making this commitment of four years. Nobody believes it, and you will end up changing the story. Let us wait for the party to settle, then we can decide the best path to win.”
Sources said Obi’s dilemma lies in the risk of stepping down for Jonathan in 2027 against the uncertainty of his own political future.
“You know he must also convince the Obidient Movement. Right now, it will be hard for him to sell anything short of a presidential run in 2027. That’s why his talks with both Atiku and Jonathan have dragged on for months,” one source said.
Jonathan should step down for Obi – Tanko
Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, told Daily Trust that the Jonathan-Obi meeting did not come as a surprise.
“They have been friends for a long time. The meeting was for them to fraternise and discuss how to rescue Nigeria,” he said.
Tanko added that the Obidients would prefer Jonathan to step aside for Obi.
“They are both strong contenders, but for us, it would be great if Jonathan remains the statesman he is known for. He has done his best as president, he is respected, and this is the time for him to support his brother.
“Remember, Obi was part of Jonathan’s economic management team and stood by him when he was president. This is the time for Jonathan to support Obi.”
Tanko also alleged attempts by some politicians to use Jonathan against Obi.
“We are aware of such moves, but we strongly believe they will not succeed. Many Nigerians believe the next president should come from the South, and for fairness, the South East should get the chance. Peter Obi is the ideal candidate,” he said.
Efforts to get Jonathan’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, for comments were unsuccessful. However, one of Jonathan’s aides, who confirmed that the discussion centred on 2027, said: “It is only common sense for Obi to step down for him. It’s about striking the right balance, something Obi can present to his group and convince them.”
DAILY TRUST.
