Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate who is now seeking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket for 2027, led a delegation of Igbo leaders to a closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Monday, April 27, 2026 .
The meeting, held at Jonathan’s residence in Maitama, lasted approximately two hours and was attended by notable figures including former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator Victor Umeh, and former NDDC Managing Director Onyema Ugochukwu, among others .
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Obi clarified that the visit was part of broader consultations with former national leaders, not a bid for endorsement.
“We are not talking about an endorsement yet. When I become a candidate, I’ll come back for endorsement,” Obi said.
He added: “We need to consult them, especially someone like him who served the country very faithfully, focused, and did what is expected in a democracy. In this declining situation, you consult him” .
On his X handle after the meeting, Obi wrote that the discussions were “frank, thoughtful, and anchored on the urgent need to reposition Nigeria on the path of unity, security, stability, productivity, and inclusive governance” .
Obi said Jonathan expressed support for a free, fair, and credible electoral process and opposed the idea of a one-party system.
“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 .
The meeting follows similar engagements Obi has held with former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida . It also comes days after opposition parties gathered in Ibadan, where they issued the Ibadan Declaration—a resolution to present a single consensus presidential candidate against the ruling APC in 2027 .
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