Atiku, and Aregbesola
Ex-Vice President and Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Friday met former Osun State Governor and Interior Minister, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola as part of his strategic consultations towards the 2027 election.
Accompanied by an entourage including another former Vice President Namadi Sambo among other high profile politicians, Atiku, who ran under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,met Aregbesola at his Ilesa residence.
The meeting held against the backdrop of amid growing speculation of an emerging political realignment among key figures who are either sidelined by,or disillusioned with, the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
Aregbesola, who previously served as Minister of Interior under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has in recent months hinted at the possibility of aligning with a new political movement, signaling a potential break from the APC.
The former governor, a close ally of President Tinubu until their widely publicized fallout in the lead-up to the 2022 gubernatorial election, remains a formidable political force in Osun State.
Receiving Atiku during the visit were prominent political associates of Aregbesola, including former Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, and former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti. Both were key figures within Aregbesola’s political camp.
A sources close to the former governor said that the meeting was more than a mere courtesy call.
“This is not just a visit. It’s a strategic consultation. Atiku is building bridges and Aregbesola is a key player in forming a strong alternative political coalition for 2027,” the source said.
The visit comes on the eve of the coronation ceremony of the new Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, which both Atiku and Aregbesola are expected to attend. Their joint presence at the traditional event is seen by observers as a sign of growing political synergy.
Analysts suggest this meeting could mark the beginning of a significant coalition that may alter Nigeria’s political dynamics in the run-up to the next general elections.
