In a significant political development, Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, and Hamza Al-Mustapha, the ex-aide to the late military dictator General Sani Abacha, were among a host of prominent political figures who gathered in Abuja on Tuesday to discuss strategies for Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 elections.
The high-level meeting, organized by Shehu Gabam, the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), took place at the party’s headquarters in the capital.
Joining the political heavyweights at the gathering was Segun Showunmi, the former spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, alongside several other key figures from Nigeria’s political landscape.
In a post on Facebook, Showunmi revealed that the meeting primarily focused on reviewing the state of opposition politics in the country.
“Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, a key meeting was held by His Excellency Shehu Gabam, Chairman of the SDP, with political figures including former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, and myself, known as ‘The Alternative,’” Showunmi wrote.
“The discussions centered on how to strengthen opposition politics in Nigeria for the upcoming elections.”
The meeting, described by Showunmi on X (formerly Twitter) as a “strategic session,” served as both a networking opportunity and a platform to assess the current state of democratic engagement in the country.
Participants discussed various ways to galvanize the opposition ahead of what promises to be a highly contested election cycle.
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This gathering comes at a time of heightened political speculation surrounding Nasir el-Rufai’s future within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Recent reports have fueled rumors that el-Rufai, who has been a prominent figure within the APC, could be considering a shift in allegiance.
These speculations intensified after the Senate blocked his confirmation for a ministerial post, despite his nomination by President Bola Tinubu. El-Rufai himself has vehemently denied reports of plans to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), quashing any rumors of a change in political direction.
With just a few years to go before the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s political landscape is already undergoing significant shifts, as various factions within the opposition work to position themselves strategically for the upcoming polls.
The meeting in Abuja appears to be part of broader efforts to strengthen opposition unity and provide a credible alternative to the ruling government in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive electoral environment.
