Fresh details have emerged on the rationale behind the closed-door meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, on Monday, as political consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify.
The clarification was provided by Obi’s former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.
Jonathan and Obi had earlier met behind closed doors in what observers see as part of Obi’s expanding political outreach.
The meeting, which quickly went viral on social media, was publicised by ADC Vanguard, the mobilisation wing of the African Democratic Congress coalition, which shared videos and photos on its X handle.
Tanko said the visit formed part of a broader outreach to national leaders aimed at securing support for Obi’s presidential ambition, which he argued reflects the preference of many Nigerian youths.
He said, “It is a visit to our national leaders and at the same time to appeal to them to give support to the candidature of Peter Obi based on available facts that the Nigerian youths have made up their mind that he is the most preferred candidate.
“And in order to unite this country to ensure that we continue to remain as united as possible, they want to fill in that particular gap of leadership from the southeastern part of this country so that they too can have a feel of belonging since after the Civil War.”
Continuing, Tanko explained that the appeal to Jonathan was strategic, noting Obi’s past role during his presidency and expressing confidence that the former President’s support would significantly boost his principal’s chances.
He argued that the move aligned with similar engagements already extended to northern leaders, including Prof Ango Abdullahi, as part of efforts to build broad-based national support.
“I think it’s a noble objective for us to seek the support of his former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, considering the fact that His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, played a very fundamental role during his tenure as President.
“So we felt it was time for him to give us that particular support that would make a lot of sense. The former President is a humble man. And we believe that with his support, it will propel the candidature of Obi to a greater height.
“You’ve seen us do the same thing to our northern brothers, Prof Ango Abdullahi and the rest of them. So we felt it was important to also extend the same thing to His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan.
“That’s exactly what took place today,” he stated.
When asked if the visit was also part of broader consultations to deepen support for Obi and position him as a possible consensus candidate amid ongoing opposition talks, Tanko agreed.
He said, “Of course! You can never stop consultation even till the last minute in policies, except, of course, the day you are sworn in as the President.”
Obi’s media spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, shared a similar position in a terse statement issued after the meeting, noting that the engagement was part of ongoing consultations with former national leaders.
Umar quoted Obi as saying, “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. In this declining situation, you consult him.”
According to him, Obi had earlier met with former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, among others, as part of his nationwide consultations.
Obi, however, declined to disclose details of the outcome of the meeting, stating only that Jonathan wished the country well and emphasised the importance of credible elections.
“He wished that we had a free, fair, credible election. There can’t 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.
He also clarified that the former President has not endorsed his potential 2027 ambition.
“We’re not talking about an 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.
Announcing the Jonathan-Obi meeting on X, ADC Vanguard described the engagement as “high-level,” suggesting discussions around the possibility of opposition parties rallying behind a single presidential candidate.
“Goodluck Jonathan and Peter Obi are having high-level discussions about presenting one presidential candidate for the opposition parties,” it said.
Obi was accompanied by a delegation comprising Igbo elders, ADC senators from the South-East, and other political associates.
The development comes amid growing speculation about a potential political alliance between Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, both influential figures within the ADC coalition.
It also follows a recent national opposition summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State, where key political actors deliberated on strategies to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
The meeting, hosted by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, drew prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Kwankwaso, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, among others.
In the Ibadan Declaration issued at the end of the summit, participating parties resolved to forge a united front, resist what they described as moves toward a one-party state, and work towards presenting a single consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
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