By Lizzy Chirkpi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Thursday held a private meeting in Kano, in the latest round of high-level political consultations ahead of the 2027 general election.
The closed-door meeting took place during Obasanjo’s official visit to Kano State, although neither leader disclosed the issues discussed.
Announcing the visit in a post on Friday, Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, said the former Kano State governor paid a courtesy visit to the former president at his temporary residence in the state.
According to Hassan, Kwankwaso was accompanied by the former Deputy Governor of Kano State and the NDC’s 2027 governorship candidate in the state, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
“His Excellency, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD, FNSE, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the NDC, last night paid a courtesy visit to elder statesman and former President of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, at his temporary residence in Kano,” Hassan wrote.
He said Obasanjo, who is in Kano on an official assignment, used the opportunity to engage the former governor on issues affecting the country.
“The meeting was warm and constructive, providing an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on issues of national interest,” Hassan stated.
No further details of the discussion were made public.
The meeting comes at a time political consultations and alignments are intensifying ahead of the 2027 general election, and is likely to generate fresh interest over possible opposition strategies in the run-up to the polls.
Obasanjo has maintained a longstanding political relationship with the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the former president publicly endorsed Obi, describing him as a leader with the character, competence and commitment required to move Nigeria forward.
Since then, both men have sustained close ties, with Obi making several visits to Obasanjo and the two appearing together at a number of national engagements.
Although Obasanjo has yet to publicly endorse any candidate for the 2027 presidential election, his latest meeting with Kwankwaso—Obi’s running mate on the NDC ticket—is expected to fuel speculation over ongoing consultations within opposition circles as preparations for the next election gather momentum.