Former President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday hosted key political figures including former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai; and former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal at his residence in Kaduna.
The visit, which has stirred considerable political interest, was confirmed by Imran Wakili, a known associate of El-Rufai, via a post on social media platform X. Wakili wrote: “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, together with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, and other dignitaries, visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence. El-Rufai’s endless respect for Buhari is priceless, even with the best effort of Garba Shehu.”
While the purpose of the meeting was not officially disclosed, it comes on the heels of recent high-level engagements among opposition leaders aimed at forming a united political front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, El-Rufai, and Tambuwal were also reported to have held strategic meetings with key opposition stakeholders in Kaduna. This development follows the recent formation of a political coalition that includes Atiku and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, signaling a coordinated move to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential election cycle.
Atiku publicly declared the formation of the coalition during a press briefing organized by a group identified as Concerned Leaders and Political Stakeholders in Nigeria. The alliance is seen as an early but significant move in what promises to be a high-stakes political battle in 2027.
Adding fuel to the speculation, former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewale Adebayo, revealed that discussions were ongoing with both Atiku and Obi about a possible defection to the SDP. Adebayo noted that if the two opposition heavyweights—and others—embrace the SDP’s ideological framework, they could pose a formidable challenge capable of unseating President Tinubu and the APC.
In a related development, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain, Buba Galadima, claimed El-Rufai may be acting as a strategic placeholder for Atiku within the SDP, should internal dynamics within the PDP prevent Atiku from securing its presidential ticket.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the recent convergence of top-tier politicians at Buhari’s residence is being closely watched, signaling potential realignments that could reshape the 2027 presidential race.