Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the previous poll, Mr Peter Obi, alongside several South East leaders, held a meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The meeting, which was conducted behind closed doors, took place at Jonathan’s residence in Abuja on Monday evening.
Among the South East leaders in attendance were former Enugu State governor, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Imo State governor, Achike Udenwa; former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Senator Victor Umeh, and others.
Obi has earlier expressed his intention to run in the 2027 presidential election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Obi, who addressed the press on behalf of the South East leaders, said the visit was part of consultations with the former President concerning the 2027 elections.
Obi said President Jonathan wished Nigeria well and his wish is that there will be a free, fair and credible elections in 2027, adding that Nigeria cannot be turned into a one party state.
“He wished that we have free, fair, credible election. That would be his wish. There can’t be one party system. He cannot support such thing. Nobody can claim to be more of a democrat in this country. In terms of those who have led this country without putting him (Jonathan) as number one.
He said Jonathan served the country faithfully and he was a democrat.
Speaking on endorsement, he said “we’re not talking about an endorsement yet. When I become a candidate, I’ll come back for endorsement. He wishes the country well. We are here to consult with him.
“We, some notable South East leaders have come in consultation to our respected former President Goodluck Jonathan, That’s basically what it is. It is on 2027 elections and it is all about Nigeria.
“We are now seeing him (Jonathan) in the categories we have come to see former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former president Ibrahim Babangida and others , so that is the category we are seeing now.
“They are fathers now. They are not defecting. They are not involved. But we need to consult them, because especially someone like him (Jonathan) who served the country very faithfully, focused, and did what is expected in a democracy in this declining situation.”
