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Peter Obi Undertakes ‘Closed-Door’ Meetings with Atiku and Lamido

Written by Jerry Alomatu on May 13, 2024

News Views: 266

Presidential hopeful Peter Obi of the Labour Party quietly made his way to the residences of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, in Abuja on Monday. While the specifics of their discussions remain undisclosed, these visits are perceived as significant within political circles.

Atiku himself took to Twitter to announce Obi’s visit, expressing his pleasure in receiving the former running mate from the 2019 presidential election. This meeting holds particular weight given their shared history in the political arena.

A source close to Obi revealed that a similar visit was made to Sule Lamido, further underscoring the private nature of these engagements.

Through his social media channels, Atiku shared snapshots of their gathering, acknowledging the honor of hosting Peter Obi.

On a separate note, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, shed light on the circumstances surrounding Peter Obi’s departure from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Ibe attributed Obi’s exit to the influence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who advocated strongly for the zoning of the presidency to the southern region.

During an appearance on Seun Okinbaloye’s Mic On podcast, Ibe revealed that Atiku was open to the idea of zoning the PDP presidential ticket to the Southeast, a move that aligns with Obi’s political aspirations.

According to Ibe, Atiku was prepared to step aside from the presidential ticket if the party chose to zone it to the Southeast. However, Wike’s stance, favoring the broader southern region over the Southeast, reportedly thwarted this plan, as he believed it would enhance his chances of clinching the nomination.