A high-profile political coalition meeting in Abuja turned chaotic on Saturday when delegates from Jigawa State stormed the venue, disrupting proceedings that included prominent opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
The incident occurred at the Abuja Continental Hotel during a gathering of the National Political Consultative Group (North), which had brought together key political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party's Peter Obi, and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
According to reports, tensions escalated when Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced a delegate to represent Jigawa State. This announcement reportedly sparked immediate outrage among Jigawa representatives present at the meeting, who protested what they perceived as improper representation.
The meeting, which appeared to be part of ongoing consultations ahead of the 2027 elections, was temporarily thrown into disarray as organizers attempted to restore order amid the protests.
This gathering follows recent political movements suggesting potential realignments among opposition figures. The presence of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed at the same forum indicates possible coalition-building efforts against the ruling party ahead of the next general elections.
The disruption highlights the internal challenges facing opposition groups as they attempt to form a united front, with regional representation emerging as a contentious issue that could potentially undermine coalition efforts.
Neither Atiku Abubakar nor Peter Obi has issued official statements regarding the incident as of press time.
