Leaders of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party aligned with Seyi Makinde met on Wednesday in Abuja with key figures of the African Democratic Congress, including David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, to discuss possible political cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections and explore ways to challenge the current administration of Bola Tinubu.
The meeting, which took place at Mark’s residence, brought together several opposition figures across parties. Those present included Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal and other political stakeholders.
Discussions at the closed-door session focused on building a united front, possible power-sharing plans, and selecting a platform for future elections.
Sources within the meeting revealed that the talks were part of a wider plan by opposition figures to work together and form a common political direction that could challenge the ruling party in 2027.
The leaders also reviewed ongoing political developments, including legal issues affecting their parties and actions by the electoral body.
Despite the gathering, the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected any claim that the PDP as a party is involved in alliance discussions. A statement from that faction insisted that no official meeting or agreement had been approved by the party leadership and that individuals who attended did so on their own.
The PDP and ADC are both dealing with internal leadership disputes, with factions and court cases affecting their structures. The situation has also been complicated by recent actions of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which has been involved in decisions affecting party leadership recognition.
Meanwhile, some participants described the meeting as part of ongoing consultations among opposition leaders who are concerned about the state of democracy and are seeking ways to work together. They agreed to continue discussions and return to their respective groups for further input before making final decisions on any alliance.
Earlier the same day, several of the political figures present at the meeting had joined a protest in Abuja organised by ADC members, where they called for recognition of their party leadership and raised concerns about the conduct of the electoral body.
The talks are expected to continue in the coming days as opposition leaders weigh their options and consider forming a joint platform ahead of the next general elections.