Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Thursday, held a closed-door meeting in Abuja, sparking speculations about possible political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, disclosed the meeting in a post on his official X handle.
“Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation,” Obi wrote.

While details of their discussions remain undisclosed, political observers suggest the meeting may have touched on strategies for the 2027 presidential race.

The development comes weeks after the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, while retaining the national chairmanship in the North. The NEC also confirmed Umar Damagum as the party’s substantive national chairman.

Mr Jonathan, who hails from Bayelsa in the South-south, served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015. He assumed office following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, won the 2011 election, but lost re-election to the late Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Mr Obi, from the South-east, has already declared his interest in contesting the 2027 presidency, pledging to serve only one term if elected. Although he is a key figure in opposition coalitions, there have been suggestions that the PDP could consider him for its ticket.

Meanwhile, speculation also lingers about a potential comeback bid by Jonathan, though he has not made any public statement to that effect. Another name being floated is Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, whose campaign posters have begun to surface despite his silence on the matter.

The Jonathan–Obi meeting is expected to fuel further debate over possible alliances and strategies that could shape the political landscape ahead of the next presidential election.