KEY POINTS
- Peter Obi denies 2027 alliance with Goodluck Jonathan.
- His aide says their meeting was merely a friendly discussion.
- Opposition tension grows amid talks of unity against Tinubu.
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has denied reports of a political alliance with former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi clarified that no pact exists between him and the former leader to unseat President Bola Tinubu, despite growing speculation following their recent meeting in Abuja.
His media aide and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, made the clarification in an interview.
Meeting with Jonathan “not political,” says aide
Tanko described the meeting between Obi and Jonathan as a routine engagement between two respected statesmen, not a political negotiation.
“My principal and the former president have a good working relationship,” he said. “Seeing them talk should not be interpreted as an alliance or 2027 strategy.”
He added that even during their previous meeting in Ghana, there was no discussion about forming a coalition or power-sharing arrangement.
Opposition unity talks fuel speculation
The clarification comes amid increasing political tension within opposition circles, as several parties explore the possibility of forming a united front to challenge Tinubu and the ruling APC in 2027.
Supporters of both Obi and Jonathan have debated potential collaboration, with some urging one to step aside for the other to strengthen opposition unity.
Obi had earlier described Jonathan as his “elder brother and a statesman” after their September 11 meeting in Abuja, saying their discussion focused on national issues.
While neither disclosed details, the meeting came at a time of rising economic uncertainty and criticism of the Tinubu administration.
Jonathan, who governed Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, has since taken on the role of an African statesman, mediating in political crises across the continent.
Obi, whose 2023 presidential run reshaped Nigeria’s political landscape, continues high-level consultations nationwide — though his camp insists they are non-partisan for now.
