A high-profile meeting aimed at strengthening a political coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections was disrupted on Sunday as tensions flared among some delegates.
The gathering, which took place at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal.
Sources at the venue told reporters that a disagreement over coalition leadership and party alignment quickly escalated into heated exchanges, forcing security personnel to intervene and restore order.
The closed-door meeting was convened to finalize strategies for uniting opposition parties under a single platform ahead of the 2027 elections. However, differing interests reportedly derailed the talks.
One insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “It started smoothly, but midway into discussions, delegates from some blocs began to question the direction of the coalition and who would lead it. The shouting matches that followed brought the entire session to a halt.”
READ ALSO: Defections Not Tinubu’s Fault, Opposition Should Look Inward — APC Chieftain
Despite the disruption, key figures such as Atiku and Obi were said to have held a brief private discussion afterward, in an effort to calm frayed nerves and revive the dialogue.
As of press time, no official statement had been issued by any of the opposition leaders regarding the incident.
The Abuja meeting comes weeks after a broad alliance of opposition leaders — including Atiku, Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Babachir Lawal — reportedly adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their potential vehicle for a united front in 2027.
While the coalition’s prospects have generated significant buzz, Sunday’s disruption underscores the internal challenges still confronting Nigeria’s opposition bloc as it seeks to unseat the APC.