A coalition meeting, organised by the National Political Consultative Group (North), involving key political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, was briefly disrupted by delegates from Jigawa State on Sunday at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The meeting, which was convened to discuss issues pertinent to northern political alignment, encountered chaos following a dispute over the representation of Jigawa State. The tension escalated after Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, named a delegate to represent the state.
Delegates Storm Stage in Protest
Jigawa delegates strongly objected to the selection and, in protest, stormed the stage, preventing the nominated delegate from speaking. The situation became heated as they refused to accept the nomination, demanding a new representative for the state.
The disturbance caused a temporary halt to the proceedings. After several minutes of appeals from the other attendees, order was eventually restored when Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, was selected, along with another delegate, to represent the state.
The disruption highlighted underlying tensions within the coalition, which had initially aimed to unite key northern political leaders. The incident also raised questions about internal party dynamics and representation, further complicating the fragile unity within the northern political bloc.
Coalition’s Ongoing Efforts for Unity
The meeting was part of ongoing efforts by northern leaders to establish a unified political front ahead of the upcoming elections. Despite the brief interruption, the event underscored the significance of coalition-building as a strategic move for the region’s political future.