Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, and some South East leaders, on Monday, met with former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, held in Jonathan’s House in Abuja on Monday evening.
South-East leaders, who attended the meeting included former Enugu State governor, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Imo State governor, Achike Udenwa; former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Senator Victor Umeh, among others.
Already, Obi has indicated interest to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
Obi, who addressed newsmen after the meeting on behalf of the South East leaders, said they consulted with the former President over the 2027 general elections.
Obi said Jonathan wished Nigeria well and his wish is that there will be a free, fair and credible elections in 2027, adding that Nigeria cannot be turned into a one party state.
“He wished that we have free, fair, credible election. That would be his wish. There can’t be one party system. He cannot support such thing. Nobody can claim to be more of a democrat in this country. In terms of those who have led this country without putting him (Jonathan) as number one.”
He said Jonathan served the country faithfully and he was a democrat.
On endorsement, he said “We’re not talking about an endorsement yet. When I become a candidate, I’ll come back for endorsement. He wishes the country well. We are here to consult with him.
“We, some notable South East leaders have come in consultation to our respected former President Goodluck Jonathan, that’s basically what it is. It is on 2027 elections and it is all about Nigeria.
“We are now seeing him (Jonathan) in the categories we have come to see former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former president Ibrahim Babangida and others , so that is the category we are seeing now.
“They are fathers now. They are not defecting. They are not involved. But we need to consult them, because especially someone like him (Jonathan) who served the country very faithfully, focused, and did what is expected in a democracy in this declining situation.”
