A high-level coalition meeting involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and other key political figures was momentarily disrupted on Sunday in Abuja by delegates from Jigawa State.
The gathering, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, was organized by the National Political Consultative Group (North) as part of ongoing coalition talks among prominent northern politicians.
Tension flared when Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, named a delegate to speak on behalf of Jigawa State. The move was swiftly rejected by Jigawa representatives, who stormed the stage and blocked the nominee from addressing the audience, insisting they would not be represented by someone imposed on them.
The disruption brought the meeting to a halt, prompting several minutes of appeals and back-and-forth negotiation. Calm was eventually restored after Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, and another local delegate were selected to represent the state.
The incident highlights the sensitivity of regional representation and political alignment ahead of Nigeria’s next election cycle, as key opposition figures weigh strategies for broader collaboration.
