A coalition of Northern political figures operating under the National Political Consultative Group (NPCG) is planning to introduce a consensus presidential candidate to contest against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The group also aims to launch a new political platform that will serve as a rallying point for this cause.
In a meeting held on Sunday evening in Abuja, several prominent politicians gathered to solidify their approach to the upcoming elections. Attendees included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and a representative of former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola.
Following the meeting, a communiqué released by NPCG Chairman Babachir Lawal noted that the group was formed to unite Northern leaders and ensure the region acts as a single political force. Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the worsening conditions in the North — including growing insecurity, poverty, and poor education — necessitated a strong and united response.
Delegates at the meeting noted that fear and emotions should not guide the North’s political decisions. Instead, they insisted that knowledge and clear strategy should lead the way. They agreed that a unified approach was critical for the North to benefit meaningfully from national politics.
The group also plans to expand its activities across all 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory using a detailed operational strategy. It called for the immediate launch of a political platform through which the North can assert its interests. The NPCG also pointed to industrial development and equitable resource management as necessary steps toward reversing the economic crisis in the region.
Meanwhile, a rift has emerged within the Labour Party over Peter Obi’s involvement in the coalition talks. Julius Abure, who claims leadership of a faction of the party, has rejected Obi’s participation, stating, “We have consistently said that the Labour Party will not go into any coalition or merger of any sort ahead of the 2027 general election.”
Obiora Ifoh, the spokesperson for Abure’s faction, added that Obi’s continued association with the group “is not only distasteful but unacceptable to the party.”
In contrast, the Labour Party’s National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has thrown its full support behind Obi. According to Ken Eluma Asogwa, Usman’s Senior Special Adviser on Media, Obi’s engagement with the coalition aligns with the party’s goals. “To be clear, the National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party… expressly approved and endorsed Peter Obi’s participation,” he said.
Asogwa also reaffirmed that Obi remains free to run under the Labour Party platform in 2027 if the coalition does not solidify. He added that Obi’s focus on addressing insecurity, hunger, and misgovernance resonates with the Labour Party’s core values.
