In a significant development, Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, held a closed-door meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some other prominent chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday, May 13,.
Obi also met separately with Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, and Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President.
However, Monday’s meeting has sparked speculation about a potential coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections and the possibility of the PDP working with other prominent parties in Nigeria to take over power from the ruling APC and hinder President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
In a swift reaction, Atikuâs media adviser, Paul Ibe, told The Punch that the two politicians’ coming together was possible.
He also noted that a possible coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election is not far-fetched.
The aide also confirmed that Obiâs meeting with Atiku lasted approximately 20 minutes.
He stated:
Meanwhile, Paul Ibe also disclosed that Atiku was not responsible for Peter Obi’s departure from the PDP but that Nyesom Wike, the minister of the FCT, should be blamed.
Recall that Obi was Atiku’s vice presidential candidate in the 2019 election before the former left the PDP ahead of the 2023 election.
According to Ibe, Atiku supported the zoning formula but insisted that the ticket be zoned to the southeast, Vanguard reported.
He added that Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was instrumental in Peter Obi’s exit from the PDP.
TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that the PDP and Labour Party kicked against a US report that claimed the 2023 election results reflected the will of the voters.
The opposition parties faulted the report’s conclusion, citing the widespread irregularities during the election.
The PDP and the Labour Party added that they will resist the ruling APC’s move to turn Nigeria into a one-party system.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
