By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, met with former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola at his Lagos residence on Saturday.
The meeting comes amid growing calls for a strong opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, with discussions centered on national politics, governance, and Nigeria’s democratic future.
Kwankwaso confirmed the meeting via a social media post, stating, “This evening, I had the pleasure to visit the former Governor of Osun State and former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at his residence in Lagos. The meeting afforded us the opportunity to engage in discussions on national politics, governance, and the future of Nigeria’s democratic landscape.”
Aregbesola, a former two-term governor of Osun State, previously had a political fallout with President Bola Tinubu over the second-term ambition of his successor, Gboyega Oyetola. Oyetola, who governed Osun from 2018 to 2022, lost his re-election bid to Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before being appointed Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in Tinubu’s administration.
Kwankwaso, a key figure in opposition politics, contested the 2023 presidential election under the NNPP and has remained vocal on governance issues. The recent meeting between him and Aregbesola has sparked speculation about possible political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
