Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has continued his political consultations with key figures across party lines, meeting on Thursday with former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
The meeting, held over breakfast at Aregbesola’s residence, was shared by Atiku on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, where he posted a video of their interaction with the caption: “Breakfast time at the residence of the former Governor of Osun State, Engr Rauf Aregbesola.”
Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior, was a long-time ally of President Bola Tinubu. However, their relationship reportedly soured in the build-up to the 2023 general election, when divisions emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State and beyond.
The encounter is the latest in a series of high-profile meetings led by Atiku, who is spearheading efforts to unite Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential polls. His recent engagements include discussions with Peter Obi, former Labour Party flagbearer, and Nasir El-Rufai, ex-governor of Kaduna State.
Following their meeting, El-Rufai hinted at the seriousness of the agenda, stating, “Serious issues were discussed,” and suggesting that the opposition intends to “retire Tinubu to Lagos in 2027.
Analysts say the meeting with Aregbesola could mark a strategic move to court disenchanted APC elements as part of a broader plan to forge a formidable coalition against the incumbent.
Neither Atiku nor Aregbesola has disclosed further details about their discussion, but the timing and nature of the meeting signal intensified political manoeuvring in preparation for the next election cycle.
