•Political leaders hold crucial closed-door meeting in Mark’s Abuja residence
Thousands of youths under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday morning, stormed the Abuja office of ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), brandishing placards and banners with messages calling on the former President to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Amid rising political tension in the country, leaders of the opposition last night converged on the Abuja residence of former Senate President, David Mark, in what observers describe as a decisive step towards forging a broad-based political coalition ahead of future electoral contests.

The mammoth crowd of civil society organisations (CSOs) and youths, which overflowed from Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street and spread through Farmers Market to IBB Way in Abuja, disrupted morning traffic.

Chanting and dancing to popular Nigerian songs, they held placards with various messages urging Jonathan to throw his hat into the ring for the 2027 presidential contest.

Some of the placards read: “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!”, “GEJ, Nigerian youths don break the medicine wey dem do you”, “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”

Led by Dr Tom Ohikere, the national president of the group, they waited for over three hours to ambush the former president, who did not show up as expected.

They then decided to read their prepared speech to the media through Ohikere, a former commissioner for information in Kogi State.

The statement reads: “Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable.”

Ohikere said the ex-president remains the only unifying force capable of averting the looming catastrophe in Nigeria.

Jonathan did not show up to receive the crowd, which described themselves as ‘visitors’. They dispersed before he drove in at 1.00 p.m.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had yet been issued by Jonathan.

THE high-level political meeting, held behind closed doors at Mark’s residence in Apo, brought together key figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), signalling what insiders say could culminate in a strategic alliance between the two parties.

Among those in attendance were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and prominent PDP stakeholders under the leadership of Tanimu Turaki.

Also present at the crucial meeting were former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; former governors, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi and Babangida Aliyu.

The convergence of influential political actors cutting across party lines has further heightened speculation that a coalition arrangement between the PDP and ADC may be imminent.

Observers note that the choice of Mark’s residence as venue underscores his continuing role as a rallying figure within opposition politics, particularly at a time when realignments and strategic partnerships are gaining momentum.