A high-level political coalition meeting involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and ex-Minister Rotimi Amaechi was thrown into disarray on Sunday after a dramatic protest by delegates from Jigawa State.
The closed-door gathering, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel under the platform of the National Political Consultative Group (North), descended into chaos when former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, announced a delegate to speak for Jigawa.
The announcement was immediately resisted by a group of Jigawa delegates, who stormed the stage and physically stopped the nominee from addressing the meeting. They insisted that the individual had no mandate to represent them and demanded to nominate their own speaker.
After tense moments and behind-the-scenes interventions, order was restored. Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, alongside another delegate, was eventually selected to speak on behalf of the state.
The event was part of ongoing consultations among opposition figures exploring a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, the drama in Abuja underscores the deep cracks and coordination challenges that may confront such an alliance going forward.
