2027 Plot Thickens: El-Rufai’s Meetings with Atiku, Others Set Tongues Wagging

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, is once again at the center of political conversations after a series of high-profile meetings with prominent figures seen as opponents or critics of President Bola Tinubu. Over the weekend, El-Rufai met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, and Pastor Tunde Bakare, raising eyebrows and fueling speculations about a potential political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), revealed that he hosted El-Rufai at his residence alongside former Adamawa State Governor Jibrilla Bindow and businessman Musa Halilu. “After tonight’s Iftar (breaking of fast), I received in audience former Governor of Kaduna State, @elrufai, former Governor of Adamawa, Jibrilla Bindow and Musa Halilu, Dujima Adamawa. Our robust discussions were the dessert of the meal,” he wrote.

Before that meeting, El-Rufai had visited Aregbesola and Pastor Bakare in Lagos. His media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed the visit via X, stating, “Malam Nasir @elrufai was in Lagos today to visit Ogbeni @raufaregbesola and Pastor Tunde Bakare.” This comes just days after El-Rufai was seen with former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, further intensifying speculation about his next political moves.

Aregbesola, a two-term governor of Osun State and one-time close ally of President Tinubu, has had a rocky relationship with the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently facing disciplinary action from the party amid ongoing internal disputes in Osun. Pastor Bakare, a respected clergyman and former APC presidential aspirant, has also been a vocal critic of aspects of the current administration.

Meanwhile, Atiku continues to push for a coalition to challenge the APC in 2027. Despite recent rumors suggesting he might leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), his media office refuted the claims, calling them “fallacies” and reaffirming his commitment to the PDP. The statement reiterated Atiku’s consistent call for a united opposition to unseat the ruling party in the next elections.

El-Rufai’s meetings have triggered a wave of reactions on social media. While some users described the developments as a “political tsunami” with potential to reshape alliances in the southwest, others dismissed them as inconsequential or questioned the relevance of publicizing such visits. Still, many observers believe the Kaduna politician is laying the groundwork for a significant political comeback.

With the 2027 elections on the horizon, El-Rufai’s recent engagements hint at possible new alliances forming across party lines, as opposition forces seek to regroup and reposition against the Tinubu-led APC.