Fierce Nigerian political rivals Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu were seen laughing and joking together at Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass in Rome.
Tinubu, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated Obi of the Labour Party in the closely fought 2023 presidential election. Obi challenged the result at the Supreme Court but lost.
Supporters of both men have shown bitter rivalry over the years. They often clashed on social media and in public, with some physical fights occurring before the election.
Tinubu and Obi are expected to compete again in less than two years. Nigeria is preparing for another election in 2027.
Photos of their meeting were shared on social media by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. He described how Obi and former Ekiti state governor Kayode Fayemi greeted President Tinubu at the event.
Fayemi, who is a Catholic like Obi, said, “Mr President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honouring the Pope with your presence.”
President Tinubu, who is Muslim, replied, “I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the head of the Nigerian delegation.”
Obi laughed and agreed. “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation,” he said.
Despite the friendly moment, Obi did not mention it in his detailed post on X about his Vatican visit.
Alkassim Hussain, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, told the BBC that the light-hearted meeting was positive for the country’s politics. He said it could help reduce tension.
“They showed a good image of Nigeria. That is how politics should be — without bitterness,” Hussain said.
He added, “I hope supporters of both Tinubu and Obi can see that after elections and court cases, it is about the country. Everyone should join hands to help it grow.”
Tinubu won the 2023 elections partly because the opposition was divided between the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
There is speculation that the two parties might form a coalition in 2027 to challenge Tinubu, who is expected to run for a second term.
Elections in Nigeria are often marked by violence. Since the country returned to democracy in 1999, hundreds of people have died during election periods.
