Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, alongside other prominent opposition figures, convened at the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja.
The meeting, which took place yesterday, also saw the attendance of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), the presidential candidate for the opposition Action Alliance (AA) in the 2023 election. Al-Mustapha, who served as Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha from 1993 until his passing in 1998, was a key participant in the discussions.
While the specifics of the meeting were not disclosed, it is believed to be part of ongoing efforts by opposition politicians to form a strong united front and consolidate their positions on a formidable political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
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el-Rufai, a former ally of President Bola Tinubu, has been vocal in his criticism of the president’s style of governance. His political career suffered a setback when the Senate withheld his confirmation for a ministerial position, citing security reports from the Department of State Security Service (DSS) last year. Alongside el-Rufai, former Senator Sani Danladi from Taraba and nominee Stella Okotete from Delta State also failed to secure ministerial roles.
Segun Showunmi, a former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, confirmed the meeting on his Facebook page, writing: “You must set forth at dawn! A strategic meeting called by H.E. Shehu Gabam, Chairman of SDP, with H.E. Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Otunba Segun Showunmi. The Alternative to meet and greet and review the state of opposition democratic engagement in Nigeria.”
The meeting comes amid calls for opposition leaders to join forces to challenge President Tinubu’s administration in the upcoming 2027 election. Dr Salihu Lukman, the immediate past National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North West, recently called for opposition leaders and former APC members to collaborate and form a political platform capable of defeating Tinubu in 2027.
In his New Year message, titled “Political Competition Should Define New Nigeria,” Lukman encouraged Nigerians to rise to the occasion and ensure the defeat of the APC and President Tinubu. He emphasised the need for a political party that would distinguish itself from the existing parties, including the APC, PDP, LP, and NNPP, by abiding by its own rules and promoting democratic principles.
Lukman, who resigned from the APC last year, believes that the establishment of such a platform is the key to electing truly democratic leaders and preventing the emergence of authoritarian figures in Nigerian politics.
