Atiku, Obi, Wabara, Amaechi, Malami, Others Convene in Abuja to Forge Anti-APC Alliance

In the buildup to the 2027 elections, a coalition of prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, met with Northern leaders on Sunday at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

Convened by the National Political Consultative Group (North), the closed-door meeting aimed to garner support for their efforts to unseat President Bola Tinubu.

This gathering follows a March 20 announcement in Abuja where Atiku, Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, among others, publicly declared the formation of a coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 election.

This announcement sparked considerable debate among political stakeholders regarding the potential for opposition unity.

The meeting, which ran from shortly after 3 p.m. until around 7 p.m., saw no comments from conveners or participants.

Notable attendees included Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees; and Abubakar Malami (SAN), the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Also present were Peter Ahmeh, National Secretary of the Coalition for United Political Parties; Kashim Ibrahim-Imam; and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate.

Delegates from various states, particularly the 19 northern states, addressed the current state of the nation, with discussions primarily focusing on critical issues such as security, national unity, and the necessity of competent leadership for effective governance.

About two hours into the meeting, chaos erupted when delegates from Jigawa State disrupted the proceedings.

Tensions escalated after Babachir Lawal announced a delegate to speak on behalf of Jigawa.

In protest, several delegates from the state stormed the stage, blocking the announced speaker and insisting they would not be represented by those named.

As the confrontation intensified, security personnel, including members of the Nigerian Police, DSS, and private guards, swiftly formed a protective barrier around key figures like Atiku and Amaechi.

Order was eventually restored after several minutes of appeals, with Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, along with another delegate, ultimately chosen to speak on behalf of the state.