Peter Obi Meets Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed Behind Closed Doors

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, met behind closed doors with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed at the Ramat House in Bauchi on Thursday.

The purpose of the meeting has not yet been disclosed, but both leaders are expected to address journalists afterward.

The discussion between the LP chieftain and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential race, lost to former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tinubu won in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states and secured 8,794,726 votes—nearly two million more than his closest rival, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

Abubakar, who has contested the presidency six times, garnered 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, who mobilized a massive youth movement in an unprecedented fashion, finished with 6,101,533 votes. The former Anambra governor won in 11 states, including Lagos, Tinubu’s home state, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. Abubakar also won in 12 states.

Meanwhile, ex-Kano governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso came fourth with 1,496,687 votes, securing victory only in Kano State.

As the 2027 elections approach, opposition parties have discussed the possibility of forming a coalition to challenge the APC. Atiku has been seen meeting with Obi, former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other influential politicians across the country.

Earlier this week, El-Rufai left the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing the ruling party’s departure from its founding ideals.