As preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum, prominent opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi have met with key northern political leaders in a strategic move to build a united front against President Bola Tinubu.
The high-level meeting, organized by the National Political Consultative Group (North), took place behind closed doors on Sunday at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The gathering follows an earlier coalition announcement on March 20 in Abuja, where Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others revealed plans to form a broad political alliance to challenge the ruling administration in the next election cycle.
The recent development has generated considerable attention, with analysts weighing the potential impact of a united opposition against the current government.
Notable participants at the Sunday meeting included former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami (SAN), Coalition for United Political Parties Secretary Peter Ahmeh, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, and Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The meeting, which started around 3 p.m. and ended by 7 p.m., was marked by strict confidentiality, as attendees declined to speak to the media.
However, a correspondent from The PUNCH who was present reported that delegates from all 19 northern states were in attendance, discussing pressing national issues such as insecurity, governance, and leadership.
Disruption occurred midway into the meeting when a disagreement broke out among delegates from Jigawa State.
Tensions flared after Babachir Lawal introduced a representative to speak for the state, prompting objections from several Jigawa delegates who protested the choice and interrupted the proceedings.
The situation was tense until security operatives, including personnel from the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and private guards, stepped in to protect key figures like Atiku and Amaechi.
Calm was eventually restored, and Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, was selected alongside another delegate to speak on the state’s behalf.
A source familiar with the meeting, who spoke anonymously, disclosed that the northern leaders expressed deep concern over the worsening poverty, insecurity, and hunger under the Tinubu administration—particularly in northern Nigeria.
The source noted that both Obi and Amaechi, in their brief remarks, criticized the current government’s economic policies, saying they have exacerbated hardship in the region.
They called on northern leaders to unite and support efforts to bring about political change in 2027.
Similarly, Atiku and Malami reportedly blamed President Tinubu for the region’s growing challenges, urging stakeholders to rally behind the coalition aimed at defeating the incumbent administration.
During the technical session, delegates from various states reportedly agreed on the urgent need for northern political alignment with the emerging opposition front.
They also decided to establish four committees to address key issues raised at the meeting, with a formal communique expected to be released the following day.
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