2027: Opposition Consolidates As Atiku Visits Aregbesola
Former Vice-President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, visited ex-governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, at his residence in the state.
Atiku, in a video posted on his X handle, was seen driving into Aregbesola’s residence, where the former governor received him upon stepping out of his car. Thereafter, both politicians walked into the house, accompanied by their supporters.
The Waziri Adamawa captioned the video, “Breakfast time at the residence of former Governor of Osun State, Engr Rauf Aregbesola.”
Abubakar and his team also visited Akure, the capital of Ondo state, to attend the coronation of Clement Adesuyi as the paramount ruler of Ijesaland.
Aregbesola, a former ally of President Bola Tinubu, was expelled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State chapter, in January over allegations of anti-party activities.
President Tinubu and Aregbesola fell out in 2020 when the former Minister of Interior revamped the Mandate Group, a core of Tinubu’s loyalists, and usurped the closely-knit caucus for individuals he could trust.
He then relaunched the group without Tinubu’s approval and named Abdullahi Enilolobo, his protege, as the new leader.
However, in 2022, there was an attempt by close associates and friends to reconcile both men in the build-up to the 2023 general election, a move that did not yield any tangible result with both men failing to see eye to eye.
Commentators are alluding to the fact that Abubakar’s visit to Aregbesola is coming against the backdrop of opposition politicians intensifying coalition efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Following the reported breakdown of talks with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), strong indications have emerged that opposition leaders are said to be finalising plans to adopt the African Democratic Party (ADC) as their platform to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Among the names being mentioned in the opposition coalition are Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, and the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who recently dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the SDP.
