Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo State
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has downplayed the significance of a recent meeting involving former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Cross River State governor Donald Duke, and Labour Party leader Peter Obi.
Truth Live News gathered that the ruling party maintains that the closed-door deliberations, which reportedly focused on Nigeria’s political future, pose no challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership or his prospects for re-election in 2027.
Held at Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta, the weekend meeting has stirred speculations about opposition strategies for the next general election. This comes on the heels of recent statements by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who boldly declared that there would be “no vacancy in Aso Rock” until 2031, reinforcing the APC’s confidence in Tinubu’s second term.
Opposition figures, however, appear undeterred. While details of the discussions remain confidential, sources suggest the meeting explored governance reforms and potential alternatives to the dominance of APC and PDP in Nigerian politics. Senator Kwankwaso, a political heavyweight in Kano State, confirmed the gathering on his official Facebook page, describing it as focused on “significant national issues” and the urgency of charting a new path for the country.
Despite the speculation, APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim dismissed the meeting as irrelevant. He argued that President Tinubu’s political acumen and dominance overshadow any coalition of opposition figures, labeling them as “spent forces.”
“With all due respect to Obasanjo as an elder statesman, Tinubu is in a league of his own,” Ibrahim stated. “Obasanjo supported Peter Obi in the last election, and Tinubu won decisively. The history of their alliances shows they cannot match Tinubu’s stature or APC’s dominance in modern politics.”
Ibrahim further claimed that any coalition involving Obasanjo, Kwankwaso, Duke, or Obi lacks the capacity to disrupt APC’s grip on power. “They can hold as many meetings as they like; it won’t change the fact that Tinubu and the APC remain unrivaled. Unless their plans include extraordinary candidates, their efforts will remain inconsequential,” he concluded.
As Nigeria approaches another critical election cycle, the political landscape continues to heat up, with both the ruling party and opposition camps vying for influence and public support. Whether these early maneuvers will translate into a formidable challenge to APC’s dominance remains to be seen.