Peter Obi left a recent opposition summit dissatisfied, not over what was said behind closed doors, but over what participants chose to avoid.
At the centre of his unease is the contentious issue of zoning — Nigeria’s long-standing power-sharing arrangement that rotates leadership across regions. For Obi and many stakeholders from the south, any credible opposition alliance must clearly define its position on the principle.
But the summit, according to sources familiar with the discussions, sidestepped the matter entirely.
Insiders say the push for a “single candidate” to challenge the ruling establishment lacked clarity on a critical question: where that candidate should come from. The omission, they argue, reflects a fragile compromise aimed at preserving unity while dodging deeper divisions.
For critics within the bloc, the silence speaks volumes.
Without a firm stance on zoning, talk of opposition unity risks being little more than rhetoric, sources said, warning that unresolved disagreements could undermine efforts to build a cohesive front ahead of future elections.
