By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting in Minna, Niger State, a development that has sparked intense political speculation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The high-level meeting, which took place at Babangida’s residence, was conducted away from the media, with no official communiqué issued afterward. However, multiple political sources confirmed that discussions centred on the state of the nation, opposition realignment, and strategies for the next electoral cycle.
Although details of the talks remain closely guarded, the presence of the three influential political figures has fueled suggestions that opposition leaders may be laying early groundwork to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027.
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has remained a central figure in opposition politics, while Makinde, one of the most prominent PDP governors, is widely regarded as a key power broker within the party. Babangida, despite being out of partisan politics, is known to wield considerable influence in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly in the North.
A source familiar with the meeting said the talks focused on “the future of Nigeria, governance challenges under the current administration, and the need for a broad-based coalition to rescue the country.
“The feeling among opposition leaders is that 2027 will require unity, strategic thinking and sacrifices if President Tinubu’s second-term ambition is to be checked,” the source said.
Another insider described the meeting as part of ongoing consultations among senior political actors aimed at “building consensus across party lines.
“This was not just about the PDP,” the source added. “There is a growing belief that only a united front, possibly involving multiple parties and regions, can mount a credible challenge in 2027.”
While neither Atiku nor Makinde addressed journalists after the meeting, aides to the Oyo State governor confirmed that the visit was part of “wide-ranging consultations with national leaders.”
Atiku’s media office also declined to comment, saying discussions with elder statesmen were “ongoing and normal in a democracy.”
Political analysts say the Minna meeting fits into a broader pattern of behind-the-scenes engagements among opposition figures since the 2023 elections.
“The opposition is clearly not waiting until 2026 to get its act together,” said Abuja-based political analyst Kabiru Hassan. “Meetings like this suggest early moves to build alliances, manage internal party disputes and possibly agree on a common direction to stop Tinubu’s re-election.”
President Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to seek a second term, but ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have repeatedly expressed confidence that he will contest and win in 2027.
As Nigeria’s political temperature slowly rises, observers believe the Minna meeting may mark one of the earliest visible steps toward a reconfigured opposition strategy aimed at reshaping the 2027 presidential contest.
