A political meeting involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was thrown into confusion on Saturday after delegates from Jigawa State disrupted the event.
The meeting, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, was organised by the National Political Consultative Group (North) to discuss plans for a united political front ahead of the 2027 elections.
Trouble started when Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced a delegate to speak for Jigawa State. His announcement sparked anger among some Jigawa representatives who felt sidelined.
In protest, the delegates stormed the stage, blocking the chosen speaker and shouting that they would not accept any representation without their approval.
Security personnel, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and private security guards, quickly stepped in. They surrounded key figures like Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi to prevent any harm.
An eyewitness said, “It happened so fast. The Jigawa group stood up and started shouting. Some of them tried to climb the stage. Security came in quickly to calm the situation.”
After several minutes of heated argument and appeals from organisers, calm returned. Mustapha Lamido, the son of former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, and another delegate were later selected to speak for the state.
The meeting resumed after the disruption, but the incident raised concerns about unity within the coalition.
As of press time, no official statement had been made by the organisers regarding the disagreement.
The meeting was one of many political consultations taking place as various groups and parties prepare strategies ahead of the next general election.
