Abuja – On Monday, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi met former president Goodluck Jonathan at the latter’s Maitiama residence in the capital, a gathering that lasted about two hours and included several senior leaders from Nigeria’s South‑East region.
Among the attendees were former Enugu State governor Okwesilize Nwodo, former Imo State governor Achike Udenwa, former Niger Delta Development Commission managing director Onyema Ugochukwu, and senators Ben Obi and Victor Umeh. Obi told reporters that the meeting was part of ongoing consultations with former national leaders concerning his 2027 presidential ambitions.
Obi, who is currently seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the purpose of the discussion was to exchange views rather than to secure an endorsement. “We need to consult leaders like him, who served the country faithfully and understand the demands of democracy,” he explained. “In a declining situation, you consult him.”
The former Labour Party flag‑bearer has previously visited ex‑presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida as part of his outreach to senior politicians. While he declined to provide a detailed account of the conversation, Obi noted that Jonathan expressed hope for a free, fair and credible election and warned against a one‑party system, describing the former president as “the most democratic person in this country.”
Jonathan, however, did not endorse Obi at the meeting. “We’re not talking about an endorsement yet. When I become a candidate, I’ll come back for endorsement. He wishes the country well. We are here to consult with him,” Obi said.
The meeting underscores Obi’s strategy of building a broad coalition of former officials ahead of the 2027 elections, a race that is expected to intensify as parties finalize their candidates. Continued dialogues with senior figures such as Jonathan may influence the alignment of political support in the lead‑up to the next presidential contest.
