Peter Obi Storms Bauchi, Meets Gov Bala Mohammed

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, visited Bauchi State on Thursday for an official engagement.

Upon his arrival at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport in Bauchi, he was received by the State’s deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau.

LEADERSHIP gathered that Obi’s visit to Bauchi State was to pay a courtesy visit to the state governor, Bala Mohammed.

He, thereafter, held a closed-door meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed at the Government House in Bauchi.

While the specific purpose of the meeting has remained undisclosed, political analysts speculated it could be linked to ongoing realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Governor Mohammed, who chairs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, is expected to address journalists alongside Obi after the meeting.

Obi’s visit came amid intensified efforts by opposition figures to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.

The 2023 presidential race saw Bola Tinubu of the APC emerge victorious with 8,794,726 votes, winning in 12 states. His closest rival, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, secured 6,984,520 votes, also winning in 12 states. Obi, a first-time presidential contender who gained significant support among young voters, finished third with 6,101,533 votes but notably won in 11 states, including Lagos—Tinubu’s stronghold—and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Since the election, talks of an opposition coalition have gained traction, with Atiku seen meeting key political figures, including Obi and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The private discussion between Obi and Governor Mohammed in Bauchi has further fueled speculation about potential alliances that could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027.