Fresh political realignments appear to be taking shape ahead of the 2027 general elections as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed engaged in high-level meetings with key opposition figures amid lingering divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governors, alongside Seriake Dickson, first met in Bauchi before proceeding to Kano, where they joined Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi. Although the gathering coincided with Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, insiders suggested that discussions extended beyond festivities to include strategic planning for the next presidential election.
Sources close to Kwankwaso indicated that the meeting formed part of ongoing consultations and potential political alliances, as major opposition figures explore possible alignments ahead of 2027.
The developments come at a time when reconciliation efforts within the PDP appear to have stalled. The crisis, largely involving factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and a group backed by PDP governors, remains unresolved despite earlier signals of compromise.
The Wike-aligned faction, through its spokesperson Jungudo Mohammed, accused the rival camp led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki of attempting to disrupt the party’s upcoming national convention scheduled for late March. However, the Turaki camp, represented by Ini Ememobong, dismissed the allegation, describing it as blackmail and reaffirming its commitment to unity within the party.
The PDP’s internal dispute has persisted for months, leading to parallel leadership structures. While the governors’ bloc held a convention in Ibadan in November, producing a new National Working Committee, the Wike faction later constituted a caretaker committee to oversee party affairs.
Legal battles followed, culminating in a Court of Appeal ruling that invalidated the Ibadan convention, citing breaches of electoral and constitutional provisions. The court also encouraged all parties to pursue an amicable resolution.
Despite this, tensions remain high. Makinde recently warned that aligning with Wike’s camp would amount to indirectly supporting President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 election, insisting that his group represents the true interests of the party.
In contrast, Bala Mohammed maintained a more conciliatory tone, stressing that no disagreement within Nigeria’s political space is beyond resolution and that reconciliation efforts are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Wike-backed leadership insists that the court rulings affirm its legitimacy and has vowed to proceed with the planned national convention, urging party members to disregard opposing claims.
As political consultations intensify and alliances begin to shift, observers expect clearer indications in the coming weeks regarding the direction of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections.