Frontline 2027 presidential aspirant and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday led a delegation of prominent Igbo leaders to the Maitama, Abuja residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan for a closed-door consultation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The high-level meeting, which lasted for about two hours, was attended by notable South East leaders, including former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senators Ben Obi and Victor Umeh, among others.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Obi clarified that the visit was part of ongoing consultations with elder statesmen and former national leaders regarding his presidential ambition and the future of Nigeria.
According to him, the engagement was not for political endorsement but for strategic discussions and the exchange of ideas on the nation’s current challenges and democratic future.
“We need to consult them, especially someone like him who served the country faithfully, remained focused, and did what is expected in a democracy. In this declining national situation, such consultations are necessary,” Obi stated.
He noted that the visit to Jonathan followed earlier consultations with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military President Ibrahim Babangida, among other former leaders.
Although he declined to reveal specific details of the discussions, Obi disclosed that Jonathan emphasized the need for Nigeria to uphold free, fair, and credible elections.
“He wished that we had a free, fair, and credible election. There cannot be a one-party system. He cannot support such a thing. Nobody can claim to be more of a democrat in this country than Jonathan,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor further stressed that Jonathan had not endorsed his 2027 presidential ambition, insisting that the meeting was purely consultative.
“We’re not talking about 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,” he added.
The latest move signals Obi’s continued strategic engagement with influential national figures as permutations ahead of the 2027 presidential race gather momentum across the country.
