Allies of former President Goodluck Jonathan have intensified behind-the-scenes lobbying of key opposition figures, including former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, urging them to step down from the 2027 race in favour of Jonathan.
According to sources, the move is part of a wider strategy to forge a formidable opposition front capable of unseating President Bola Tinubu, who already enjoys the full backing of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for a second term.
Pressure has been mounting on Jonathan from leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially in the North, to stage a comeback. Before his loyalists began reaching out, party chieftains had earlier attempted to woo Obi back to the PDP after he defected in 2022 to clinch the Labour Party ticket.
Obi has since aligned with an opposition coalition domiciled in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Senate President David Mark, former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola, and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai.
Although unconfirmed reports hinted that Jonathan personally met with Obi, close associates of the Labour Party leader dismissed the claims.
“It is true that Jonathan’s people want Obi to step down for him, but Jonathan himself has yet to meet Obi. I can assure you that Obi is committed to his cause of rescuing Nigeria,” a source close to Obi said.
Jonathan’s backers insist he is the most viable Southern challenger to Tinubu, arguing that his eligibility for only one more term fits into the North-South power rotation calculus and could galvanize a broader consensus.
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