Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday paid a visit to former military head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), at his hilltop residence in Minna, the Niger State capital, sparking renewed speculation over possible political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obasanjo arrived in Minna via the Ahmed Bola Tinubu International Airport and was received by protocol officials from the Niger State Government House before proceeding straight to Babangida’s residence.
Sources disclosed that the two elder statesmen held a closed-door meeting that lasted about 30 minutes. Shortly after the meeting, Obasanjo reportedly returned to the airport and departed Minna.
According to one of the sources, the visit may not be unconnected to ongoing national issues and early political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, which are already gaining momentum across the country.
The former president has recently featured prominently in political discussions following reports linking him to behind-the-scenes consultations aimed at forming a joint presidential ticket involving Labour Party’s Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The proposed alliance is said to be under the platform of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Reports further suggest that the arrangement is designed to first challenge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the ADC presidential ticket and, if successful, pose a strong opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anticipated re-election bid in 2027.
It was also alleged that alternative plans are being considered for Obi and Kwankwaso to contest on another political platform should they fail to secure the ADC ticket. In addition, Babangida has been linked to efforts encouraging Kwankwaso to defect from the NNPP to the ADC, a move observers say fits into a broader political strategy.
Both Obasanjo and Babangida have yet to make any official statements regarding the reports. However, their meeting has continued to fuel political interpretations and discussions within Nigeria’s political circles.
No comments:
Post a Comment