Ibadan Opposition Summit: Obi Discontent as Zoning Issue Remains Unresolved

A report from TheCable indicates that Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, left the recent opposition summit in Ibadan with reservations over its outcome.

The meeting, held on Saturday in Oyo State and hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde, brought together prominent opposition figures including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Obi, and other political leaders under the platform of an opposition alliance discussion ahead of the 2027 elections. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo chaired the session.

At the end of the gathering, participants issued a communiqué commonly referred to as the “Ibadan Declaration,” stating an intention to present a single presidential candidate to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027. While the announcement projected coordination among opposition figures, details around how the agreement would be implemented were not provided.

According to insiders cited by TheCable, Obi’s dissatisfaction stemmed from the absence of clarity on zoning — the informal arrangement that rotates the presidency between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions. He was reportedly concerned that the communiqué avoided taking a position on where the next candidate should come from.

Sources familiar with the discussions said the failure to address zoning left unresolved tensions among key stakeholders, particularly between northern and southern aspirants. While figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Obi are both viewed as leading contenders within the coalition discussions, no agreement was reached on which region should produce the eventual flagbearer.

The Ibadan meeting was expected by some participants to provide a clearer framework for unity, but insiders described it as stopping short of resolving core disagreements. One source said the outcome reflected compromise rather than consensus on fundamental issues shaping the coalition.

Obi has previously argued that unresolved questions around zoning and power distribution have weakened earlier opposition alignments. In a December 2025 statement, he warned that ambiguity over such arrangements could undermine trust among political actors.

Despite the outcome of the summit, Obi has not made any public statement addressing the declaration. His recent social media activity instead focused on personal engagements during his stay in Ibadan, including images of him playing tennis.

Other participants have also maintained public silence on the internal disagreements reported after the meeting. Meanwhile, discussions within opposition circles are expected to continue as stakeholders attempt to reconcile competing ambitions ahead of the next election cycle.

The Ibadan meeting ended with a shared intention to work toward a joint candidacy, but key structural questions, particularly zoning and leadership balance, remain unresolved.