Obi, Makinde in high-stakes Ibadan talks as 2027 coalition gathers steam

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde held a crucial closed-door meeting in Ibadan on Tuesday, amid intensifying efforts to build a formidable opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general election.

The private talks took place at the Governor’s Office in the Oyo State Secretariat, less than 72 hours after Ibadan hosted a high-level summit of opposition leaders and stakeholders from across the country.

Although the details of the meeting were not officially disclosed, sources familiar with the discussions said they centred on opposition unity, coalition-building and possible strategic alignments for the next electoral cycle.

The meeting is widely seen as part of broader political realignments, with the African Democratic Congress emerging as a potential platform for a united opposition front.

A source described the engagement as “strategic political consultations” aimed at consolidating alliances and shaping the opposition’s roadmap ahead of 2027.
The Ibadan talks came barely a day after Obi met separately with former President Goodluck Jonathan, underscoring the growing pace of consultations among key opposition figures.

Neither Obi nor Makinde had issued an official statement on the outcome of their meeting as of press time.

As political calculations gather momentum, the meeting is expected to sharpen focus on the emerging coalition and the battle for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.