Former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Tuesday held a closed door meeting with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, amid growing speculation over political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP’s flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election and a former governor of Kano State, paid what was officially described as a courtesy visit to Makinde. However, the timing and high profile nature of the engagement have fuelled political discussions, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing consultations among key political actors ahead of 2027.
The former Kano governor was accompanied by top officials of the NNPP, including the party’s National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed; National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson; and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Buba Galadima, alongside other senior party leaders.
The NNPP delegation was in Oyo State primarily to inaugurate the party’s state secretariat and deliberate on internal party affairs. Nonetheless, the meeting with Makinde, a leading figure in the Peoples Democratic Party, attracted widespread attention due to the differing political platforms of the two leaders.
After a two hour closed door session, Kwankwaso addressed journalists and dismissed suggestions that the visit was intended to cement a cross party political alliance. He said the engagement was driven by personal relationships rather than partisan considerations.
“This visit is more about personal friendship than party politics. Governor Makinde and I have known each other for a long time. Before proceeding to our party activities in the state, I felt it was proper to pay him a courtesy call,” Kwankwaso said.
He also reflected on his political journey, recalling that he was among the founding members of the PDP in 1998 and was elected Governor of Kano State in 1999 on the party’s platform. He later served as Minister of Defence and returned for another term as governor in 2011, again under the PDP.
