By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday visited former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola at his residence in Osun State.
Atiku shared a video from the visit on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, captioning it: “Breakfast time at the residence of the former Governor of Osun State, Engr Rauf Aregbesola.”
The meeting took place just hours before the coronation ceremony of the 49th Owa Obokun and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, in Ilesa.
Although the purpose of the visit was not officially disclosed, political observers speculate it may be part of Atiku’s ongoing consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections, where he is expected to challenge incumbent President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking a second term.
Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior and long-time political ally of President Tinubu, fell out with the president in the lead-up to the 2023 elections, adding further intrigue to the meeting with Atiku.
The former Vice President has recently intensified efforts to rally key opposition figures in a bid to unseat Tinubu in 2027. Earlier in the week, he held a closed-door meeting with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Following that meeting, El-Rufai confirmed that “serious issues” were discussed and hinted at a broad coalition with the goal of “retiring Tinubu to Lagos” in 2027.
