By Ayomide Otitoju
The 2023 presidential candidate and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has paid a courtesy visit to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan.
Although details of the closed-door meeting were not disclosed, the visit comes amid evolving political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections and is seen as reinforcing the longstanding cordial relationship between both leaders.
Kwankwaso was accompanied by NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Ajid Ahmed, National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, and other party officials.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Kwankwaso said his primary mission in Ibadan was to inaugurate the NNPP’s new state secretariat as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s structure and unity in Oyo State ahead of 2027.
“I am here in Ibadan together with the national chairman of our party and other officials to open our office and discuss important issues relating to our party in Oyo State,” he said, describing the visit to Makinde as one rooted in personal friendship rather than partisan politics.
Kwankwaso acknowledged Makinde’s membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that he was among the founding members of the party in 1998 and served as Governor of Kano State and later as Minister of Defence under its platform before defecting to other parties, including the All Progressives Congress, and eventually the NNPP.
