2027: Obasanjo holds closed-door meeting with Kwankwaso in Kano

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday held a private meeting with the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, during a courtesy visit to the former Kano State governor’s residence in Kano.

The visit, which has attracted significant political attention, comes amid growing discussions over possible opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obasanjo was received by Kwankwaso in the company of the NDC governorship candidate in Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo.

The meeting was confirmed in a statement issued by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, who described the engagement as a cordial visit marked by warm interactions between the two prominent political figures.

According to the statement, the leaders exchanged pleasantries during the visit, but no details were provided regarding the issues discussed during the closed-door meeting.

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The absence of official information on the content of the discussions has further intensified speculation over the political significance of the visit, particularly as political actors begin consultations and strategic engagements ahead of the next general election.

Observers note that Obasanjo and Kwankwaso share a longstanding political relationship dating back to the former president’s administration.

Kwankwaso served as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence during Obasanjo’s second term in office between 2003 and 2007, a period during which the two leaders worked closely in government.

The latest meeting has also renewed conversations about possible efforts to build a stronger opposition coalition capable of challenging the ruling establishment in the 2027 presidential election.

Political analysts have pointed to Obasanjo’s history of engaging key political stakeholders across party lines and his continued influence in national political discourse as reasons the meeting has generated widespread interest.

The development is particularly noteworthy because the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is widely regarded as a close political ally of Obasanjo.

The former president openly endorsed Obi’s presidential bid during the 2023 general election, a move that underscored their political relationship.

While neither Obasanjo nor Kwankwaso has commented publicly on the substance of Thursday’s meeting, political watchers are expected to continue monitoring developments as consultations among opposition leaders gather momentum in the build-up to the 2027 elections.