Peter Obi, the Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, held a private meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Thursday, describing the discussion as fruitful amid ongoing national conversations about governance and future political alignments.

Obi shared details of the encounter on his X account, posting photos of the two leaders together and calling Jonathan his "very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader." He wrote that they addressed the state of the nation in the closed-door session, though specifics remained undisclosed.

Later that day, Obi attended the third annual national summit of the Coalition of Peter Obi Support Groups and the launch of the book "The Flame of Hope: Igniting the Soul of a Nation" by Emeka Patrick Ude, where he stressed the need for electoral reforms, youth involvement, and inclusive growth to tackle poverty, jobs, health, and education challenges.

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria's president from 2010 to 2015, has increasingly taken on roles as a mediator in African conflicts and democratic processes. Obi, finishing third in the 2023 elections behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, has kept up a steady stream of consultations with influential figures since his campaign.

The timing of the meeting has fueled speculation about 2027 presidential prospects. The PDP's recent zoning of its ticket to the South has revived talk of Jonathan's potential return, while reports suggest the party is courting Obi to rejoin after his 2022 departure to the Labour Party.

Sources indicate Jonathan's camp has reached out to aspirants like Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and others to build a united front against Tinubu, though Obi has reaffirmed his commitment to any effort that counters the APC without specifying platforms. In August, Obi reiterated his pledge for a single four-year term if elected.