As opposition parties prepare for the 2027 elections, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, met behind closed doors with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, in Bauchi on Thursday.
Sources within the Bauchi State Government House told The Guardian that Obi’s visit aimed to align PDP governors with calls for him and his former running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, to rejoin the PDP.
The source added that top PDP figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have been pressuring Obi to return to the party to form a coalition that could challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“I think the former Vice President had visited his former principal, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to convince him to persuade Peter Obi to return to the PDP so that together they can rebuild the country,” the source said.
Reflecting on the 2023 election loss, the source noted that zoning disputes within the PDP contributed to its defeat, adding that party leaders now recognize the need for strategic compromises.
Rising from the meeting, Governor Bala Mohammed expressed his readiness to collaborate with Obi to form a strong opposition and counter what he described as “mediocres parading as leaders.”
He said: “Obi is the leader of the opposition in Nigeria because of his position and pedigree. Some doubting Thomases want to pre-empt what we are doing, but I want to make it clear that I am ready to work with Mr. Peter Obi to ensure we close ranks and bring good governance to the country.
“We must provide vibrant opposition with knowledge, vision, and timelines to rescue and recover our country from those parading themselves as leaders. The time has come. But we must act with fidelity, sincerity, and focus.
“Our coming together sends a message, and I believe all our colleagues—the PDP governors—support this movement. This is a transcendental journey, and we appreciate Obi for visiting. We will take this further, and going forward, you will see more collaboration between Obi, PDP governors, and the PDP as a party.”
Coalition Talks and Calls for Atiku to Step Aside:
As coalition discussions gain momentum, PDP leaders, including Bala Mohammed, have called on Atiku Abubakar to step down from the 2027 presidential race to create space for new leadership.
Buba Galadima, an ally of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, questioned why Atiku is reluctant to step aside.
“Our major problem is age, and nobody wants to say the truth.
“If I were Atiku’s adviser, I would tell him to quietly step aside and help the country move forward. It doesn’t seem like 85 percent of those who supported him before will support him again,” he said.
With coalition talks ongoing, the opposition appears to be strategizing for a repeat of the 1999 model, where alliances played a key role in PDP’s victory.