•Kwankwaso and Makinde
Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, today held a closed-door meeting with Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The meeting, which lasted hours, was held away from the glare of the media, with aides and top government officials seen moving in and out of the Governor’s Office complex, reports The Guardian.
Journalists were not allowed into the session, and no official statement had been issued as at press time.
Although details of the deliberations remained sketchy, political observers believe the engagement may not be unconnected with ongoing realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya political movement, has in recent months intensified consultations across the country, fueling speculation about his political next steps.
His visit to Ibadan is being interpreted in some quarters as part of broader strategic talks aimed at coalition-building.
Makinde, currently serving his second term as governor under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is widely regarded as one of the influential figures in contemporary Nigerian politics, particularly within the southern region.
His political structure in Oyo State and his role in inter-party negotiations during the 2023 electoral cycle have positioned him as a key stakeholder in discussions about future alignments.
Sources described the meeting as “private and strategic,” adding that it centered on national issues. However, they did not elaborate on whether electoral matters formed part of the conversation.
The development comes amid growing conversations about possible alliances and permutations ahead of 2027, as major political actors begin early consultations despite the electoral cycle still being some distance away.
Neither the NNPP nor the Oyo State government had released an official communiqué at the time of filing this report. Attempts to reach spokesmen for both camps were unsuccessful.
While it remains unclear whether the meeting signals a formal political collaboration, its timing and secrecy have heightened speculation about emerging power blocs and recalibrations that could shape the 2027 presidential contest.
