Peter Obi has warned that Nigeria is drifting towards collapse and requires urgent intervention, as Bala Mohammed declared himself a “freelance politician” amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Mohammed made the remarks on Thursday after hosting Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, at the Government House in Bauchi, where both leaders held a closed-door meeting focused on coalition-building and political strategy.
Addressing journalists, the Bauchi governor revealed that discussions centred on finding a “viable political platform” capable of challenging the current order, noting that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerging opposition alignments are currently facing uncertainty.
“Neither PDP nor the third-party interests are standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and my party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary,” Mohammed said.
He added that the evolving political situation could ultimately foster unity among opposition forces. “We cannot operate without a platform. At the end of the day, the current political situation may even help unify us and strengthen our chances of winning elections,” he stated.
Describing Obi’s visit as symbolic, Mohammed said it represented a “torchlight” for national unity and a pathway to building “a new tomorrow.”
In his remarks, Obi stressed that Nigeria’s current trajectory is unsustainable, warning that urgent corrective steps must be taken.
“The country cannot continue the way it is today. We are headed in the wrong direction, and we need to reverse that for everybody,” Obi said.
He called for broad political cooperation across regions, stating that leaders must unite under a common platform to rescue the country.
“We want to have a united country to build the future for our children. That is why we are here—to seek support and cooperation in building a new Nigeria that will benefit all,” he added.
Obi also led a delegation of South-East leaders to Bauchi, describing the visit as part of efforts to build national consensus and strengthen cross-regional alliances.
The meeting comes at a time of deepening crisis within the PDP, which is currently divided into factions led by Tanimu Turaki and Nyesom Wike, leaving its national structure weakened by legal and leadership disputes.
Governor Mohammed acknowledged the instability within his party, noting that efforts to resolve the crisis, including engagements with key stakeholders such as President Bola Tinubu and opposition leaders, had yet to yield results.
He also confirmed previous attempts to align with other political platforms, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), though such moves were unsuccessful due to disagreements over party structure and control.
Despite the uncertainties, both leaders emphasised the need for collaboration, unity, and strategic alignment to reposition Nigeria politically and economically ahead of the next election cycle.
The high-level engagement underscores ongoing efforts among opposition figures to build alliances capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape as the 2027 elections approach.
