By Agboola Aluko | GLiDE NEWS
May 26, 2025
In a major political maneuver ahead of the 2027 presidential election, key opposition figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi—held a high-level meeting in Abuja aimed at consolidating northern political support to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The gathering, hosted by the National Political Consultative Group (North), took place behind closed doors at the Abuja Continental Hotel on Sunday and drew a significant lineup of political heavyweights, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Adolphus Wabara, and former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Other prominent figures in attendance included the National Secretary of the Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ahmeh; political strategist Kashim Ibrahim-Imam; and Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The meeting reportedly commenced around 3 p.m. and lasted well into the evening, with all participants maintaining strict silence on the outcomes. However, GLiDE NEWS gathered that extensive deliberations were held on the worsening economic and security situation across the country—particularly in northern Nigeria.
Inside sources disclosed that the core of the discussions focused on forging a united opposition front and mobilizing grassroots northern support for an alternative leadership in 2027. Key participants voiced concern over increasing poverty, hunger, and insecurity allegedly exacerbated by Tinubu's administration.
“Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi both warned that the North is sinking deeper into economic despair under this government,” a source at the meeting revealed. “They urged northern stakeholders to rise to the occasion and throw their weight behind efforts to unseat Tinubu.”
Atiku and Malami, in separate remarks, echoed the sentiment and emphasized the need for competent and inclusive governance moving forward. “They rallied support for a coalition that could reshape Nigeria’s political direction and rescue the North from economic decline,” the source added.
Despite the meeting’s strategic tone, tensions briefly flared when a group of Jigawa State delegates rejected the choice of a representative announced by Babachir Lawal. The protest halted proceedings momentarily as the Jigawa bloc stormed the stage in defiance.
Calm was eventually restored after intervention by security operatives and senior stakeholders, with Mustapha Lamido—son of former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido—and another consensus delegate selected to speak for the state.
During the technical session of the event, participants reportedly agreed on the creation of four committees tasked with examining key regional and national challenges, as well as strategies for broader opposition collaboration. A formal communiqué is expected to be released today.
Speaking to GLiDE NEWS, CUPP’s National Secretary, Peter Ahmeh, described the gathering as a consultative meeting aimed at assessing current realities in the North and devising solutions.
“It was an honest conversation about the issues affecting our people,” he stated. “We addressed the economic and security difficulties faced under the current administration. Details of the outcomes will be shared soon.”
The Abuja convergence marks a critical step in efforts to realign opposition forces, amid increasing speculation over potential presidential contenders and alliances in the build-up to 2027.
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