Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, 2023 presidential candidate and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), met Wednesday with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the governor’s office in Ibadan.
The outcome of the closed-door meeting was not disclosed, but it was believed to focus on consolidating long-standing ties between the two politicians.
Kwankwaso’s entourage included NNPP National Chairman Dr. Ajid Ahmed, National Publicity Secretary Najipo Johnson, and other party officials.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Kwankwaso said he was in Ibadan mainly to inaugurate the NNPP’s new state office, part of efforts to strengthen the party’s structure in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The visit to the governor is more about personal friendship than party politics,” Kwankwaso said. “Before proceeding to the party office, I felt it was important to pay a courtesy visit to the governor, who has always been our friend.”
Kwankwaso acknowledged Makinde’s membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and said he himself had deep roots in the party before eventually defecting. He recalled helping to form the PDP in 1998, serving as governor of Kano State, minister of defense, and later holding national and international positions, including as an envoy in Darfur and Somalia.
He later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) before aligning with the NNPP. After the meeting with Makinde, Kwankwaso inaugurated the party’s new office in Ibadan to establish NNPP’s presence in the state ahead of 2027.
Kwankwaso, whose political godson Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano State, recently defected to the APC, said the NNPP would ensure Yusuf did not return to office in 2027. He added that he is open to joining any political party that would offer him a presidential or vice-presidential ticket.
Political analysts said the visit to Makinde may be part of broader consultations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
