2027 : Aregbesola, Kwankwaso hold strategic meeting in Lagos

Rauf Aregbesola, former minister of interior, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex-governor of Kano state, have met in Lagos, to “strategise” ahead of the 2027 general election.

“Aregbesola and Kwankwaso just completed a marathon meeting in Lagos where they strategised on the 2027 election,” a party source told TheCable.

The development comes days after Omoluabi Progressives, Aregbesola’s political group, left the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abosede Oluwaseun, spokesperson of the group, had said members resolved to quit APC because of “ostracisation from the party, suspension and expulsion of leaders without fair hearing, and continuous denigration of the structure”.

Days later, the APC in Osun expelled Aregbesola over alleged anti-party activities.

Aregbesola, who was the governor of Osun from 2010 to 2018 on the platform of the APC, also served as a minister during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023.

Ahead of the 2027 general election, discussions about forming a coalition to challenge the APC have been gaining momentum.

Also, politicians across opposition parties have been holding “strategic meetings”.

In November, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar hosted Peter Obi, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), to a breakfast meeting at his residence in Adamawa state.

In January, Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, Hamza Al-Mustapha, the ex-aide to the late Sani Abacha, and other politicians met in Abuja.

The meeting was convened by Shehu Gabam, national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwankwaso was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections.

On Friday, Ajuji Ahmed, NNPP chairman, said while the party is not currently in coalition talks, it is not ruling out the possibility.