Abeokuta, Ogun state – Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, held a meeting with his erstwhile lieutenant, Atiku Abubakar, in Ogun state.
Legit.ng reports that the meeting, held on Monday, February 10, had in attendance ex-Cross River state governor, Liyel Imoke. Former Sokoto state governor and a top member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aminu Tambuwal, was also present.
The meeting comes as Nigerians look forward to the 2027 general elections.
Details of the engagement involving the eminent Nigerians were not known, but a video surfaced online showing Atiku at his former boss’ residence in Abeokuta.
Atiku ran unsuccessfully for president in 2019 and 2023 under the banner of the PDP. Despite past disappointments, the septuagenarian is still widely expected to throw his hat into the ring in 2027.
A source informed The Cable that the meeting is connected to ongoing coalition discussions ahead of the 2027 general election.
The source said:
“The meeting is related to the coalition talks.”
The presence of these influential figures, all with deep political networks, has fueled speculations about strategic consultations for 2027.
Recall that in the lead-up to the 2019 election, Atiku similarly visited Obasanjo, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to seek the elder statesman’s endorsement. Although he already quit partisan politics, Obasanjo remains an influential figure in Nigeria’s political space, with the ability to shape alliances.
The meeting comes at a time when opposition forces are recalibrating following their defeat in 2023. During that year’s poll, Obasanjo publicly backed Peter Obi and not Atiku.
With President Bola Tinubu consolidating power, the PDP faces an uphill task in repositioning itself as a viable alternative.
Atiku’s continued engagement with key stakeholders signals his intent to remain a central figure in this equation. His alliance with Tambuwal, a strategic power broker in the north, and Imoke, a key player in the south-south, hints at a broader coalition-building effort.
Atiku meets APC bigwig in Abuja
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Atiku paid a visit to Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (widely known as Binani), the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 Adamawa state election.
Although neither Atiku nor Binani addressed the media after their meeting, images from the visit quickly went viral on social media.
