Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and a leading aspirant for the 2027 election, has clarified that his Monday visit to former President Goodluck Jonathan was part of ongoing consultations with prominent national leaders ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
Obi led a delegation of top South-East leaders to Jonathan’s residence in Maitama, Abuja.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted about two hours, included figures such as former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, ex-NDDC Managing Director Onyema Ugochukwu, and Senators Ben Obi and Victor Umeh.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Obi described the engagement as a continuation of his broader consultations with former Nigerian leaders, including ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida.
“We need to consult them, especially someone like him (Jonathan) who served the country very faithfully, focused, and did what is expected in a democracy,” Obi said. “In this declining situation, you consult him.”
He emphasized that the visit was not about seeking endorsement or forming pacts, but about seeking wise counsel from experienced statesmen amid Nigeria’s current challenges.
The meeting comes as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Obi positioning himself as a strong contender.
He has consistently framed such engagements as necessary steps to address the nation’s pressing issues through dialogue and experienced perspectives.
By
TheTimes Nigeria
