Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has denied reports suggesting he is in talks with former President Goodluck Jonathan over a possible political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi’s clarification came through his media aide and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, who described the speculation as “baseless and politically motivated.”
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Tanko said the relationship between Obi and Jonathan remains cordial and respectful, but insisted that no political pact or alliance exists between them to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
“My principal and the former president have a very good working relationship and they know each other very well. So seeing them talk to each other does not mean anything,” Tanko explained.
“It should not be translated to mean anything other than a platonic discussion on how to move this country forward. But I don’t think there’s anything more than that. No discussion or pact around 2027.”
Tanko also revealed that he was present at a previous meeting between both men in Ghana and confirmed that their conversations focused on national development and governance issues rather than electoral strategy.
The denial comes amid growing political tension following a recent closed-door meeting between Obi and Jonathan in Abuja — a meeting that sparked widespread speculation about an emerging opposition coalition.
Political observers had interpreted the meeting as part of a broader plan by opposition leaders to form a united front against Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential race.
On social media, supporters of both politicians have debated the possibility of an alliance, with some urging one of them to step aside for the other in the interest of “opposition unity.”
Obi, in a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle after the September 11 meeting, had described Jonathan as his “elder brother, a statesman, and leader,” adding that their discussion was “fruitful and focused on the state of the nation.”
However, he gave no details of the conversation, further fueling speculation that political realignment talks were underway.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has largely remained outside partisan politics since leaving office, dedicating his efforts to peacebuilding and democracy promotion across Africa.
Meanwhile, Obi — whose performance in the 2023 presidential election reshaped Nigeria’s political landscape and expanded the influence of the Labour Party — has been holding consultations with various political and civic leaders nationwide.
His engagements have been widely viewed as part of his early groundwork ahead of 2027, although his camp maintains that his focus remains on governance reform, economic revival, and national unity.
Tanko reiterated that Obi’s priority is “building a better Nigeria, not political scheming,” stressing that any attempt to link his meetings with a secret alliance is “a deliberate distraction.”
