In a significant political development that may shape Nigeria’s political future, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a private meeting Saturday evening with a group of prominent former governors from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The closed-door meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is being widely interpreted as a bold step towards early political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources close to the Presidency confirmed that the meeting lasted several hours and included former governors from the South-South, South-East, and North-Central zones who played key roles in past PDP administrations.
Although the exact agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, multiple insiders suggested that discussions centred around 2027 electoral strategies, possible coalition formations, and the growing cracks within the opposition camp
A Gathering of Familiar Faces
Among those present were former Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti)—all of whom have, at different times, expressed dissatisfaction with the PDP’s internal leadership.
The presence of Wike, a former Rivers State governor and a known political tactician, added weight to the meeting’s significance. Wike, who played a critical role in the PDP’s 2023 internal crisis and later accepted a ministerial appointment under Tinubu’s APC-led government, appears to be cementing his position as a powerbroker in the evolving political landscape.
Opposition in Disarray?
The move is already generating ripples within the PDP, where party loyalists fear a potential defection of high-profile members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the formation of a new political bloc entirely.
A senior PDP official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “This is not just a courtesy visit. It’s a clear signal that realignment talks are in motion, and 2027 starts now.”
While the PDP leadership has yet to respond officially, party supporters are calling for urgent reconciliation and reform to prevent further fragmentation.
Tinubu’s 2027 Strategy?
Observers say President Tinubu, who has just marked one year in office, is already laying the groundwork for a second-term bid by courting disaffected politicians across party lines and consolidating national support.
“This is a masterstroke. The President understands that winning 2027 is about more than performance—it’s about building bridges,” said political analyst, Dr. Aminu Yakubu.
As Nigeria’s political chessboard begins to shift once again, the Saturday night meeting may be remembered as a defining moment in the prelude to 2027. Whether this alliance will hold or fracture remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the road to the next general election has already begun—and it started from Aso Rock.
