₦airaland Forum

Supporters of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the 2027 presidential election, have begun reaching out to opposition heavyweights, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, in a bid to form a grand coalition strong enough to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.

With the APC hierarchy already backing Tinubu for re-election, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning its presidential ticket to the South, the 2027 contest is shaping into an all-Southern affair. Party insiders who spoke with Vanguard said top PDP leaders, particularly from the North, have been mounting pressure on Jonathan to throw his hat into the ring.

For weeks now, a host of PDP top shots, especially from the North, have been pressuring Jonathan to join the race.

Before then, some PDP bigwigs had also been wooing former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential standard bearer of Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, to return to the PDP.

Obi left the PDP in 2022 to join LP and clinched the party’s presidential ticket. Obi is among a host of opposition politicians supporting a grand coalition to square against the APC in 2027.

He is also among those backing the African Democratic Congress, ADC, coalition that has the likes of former Rivers State governor and immediate past Transport Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; former Senate President, David Mark; former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola; and former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

Asked at various times if he would return to the PDP or join the ADC, Obi who has been strident in his criticisms of the Tinubu administration, pointedly said he is for any move that will save the country from the APC.

Among Southern politicians nursing the ambition of confronting Tinubu are Mr Peter Obi; Mr Rotimi Amaechi; and Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde.

Jonathan’s exploratory visits

Sources told Vanguard, yesterday, that as part of his extensive consultations, former President Jonathan’s camp has started reaching out to key aspirants and has met Obi “to step down for Jonathan.”

There were speculations last night that Jonathan had met Obi in person to discuss the issue but sources close to the former Anambra State governor said no such meeting had been held.

“It is true that Jonathan’s people want Obi to step down for him but Jonathan himself is yet to meet Obi. I can assure you that Obi is committed to his cause of rescuing Nigeria,” the source said.

Racoon:
Oga rest. You forgotten how Tinubu and the Ojota crowd made a mockery of him. Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, Joe Odumakin and others while situation was far better then than the worst state Nigeria is in today?

The evil Tinubu and his goons did to Goodluck Jonathan is gonna befell him in 2027 whether Peter Obi or not except God has no hand in it.

zero8zero:
It's shocking to me seeing bitter Obi people wailing and campaigning against GEJ's return. Which means all their fake love for Jonathan was only an eye service.

zero8zero:
It's shocking to me seeing bitter Obi people wailing and campaigning against GEJ's return. Which means all their fake love for Jonathan was only an eye service.

jmoore:
Step down for someone that is not interested?
Now it is obvious that Tinubu's crew are behind the Jonathan propaganda.

speculations?
sources?
Add 'delusion' to it too.

It is like saying that Nigerian coach should remove Ademola Lukman and put Kanu Nwankwo in our match against southafrica this week.

Ezewuzie01:
Peter Obi knows that he can't get the kind of votes he got in 2023 off religious and ethnic considerations. Right now, he is very desperate to hold power in any form as old age is catching up fast on him and he will likely accept to go back to his vomit and become Atiku's running mate again

Putindbutt:
Sule Lamido, Bala Muhammed & co are Tinubu's crew?. Tinubu is indeed Eyebop's nightmare

Pakute:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/09/2027-jonathans-camp-pdp-topshots-wooing-peter-obi/

Brendaniel:
I am an Obi suppurter, if that is what they wan, let Obi step down

Ttalk:
Nice one, either Tinubu or Jonathan is fine. The haters will continue to do what they have been doing without result.

It will mark the total end of someone who doesn't want to contest in party primary

favour32:
That's what Tinubu and cohorts want, Jonathan.
But Obi!
No way!
Dem dey fear the man with statistics.

Na statistics we go chop from the illiterates.


Obi is a great guy!


Jonathan,ya wife nor support you.

Pakute:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/09/2027-jonathans-camp-pdp-topshots-wooing-peter-obi/