Former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai met with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, at his Abuja residence on Thursday. This meeting came just days after El-Rufai’s visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State.
The meeting has sparked speculation about El-Rufai’s political intentions, with some suggesting that he is building alliances with opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election. This speculation has been fueled by El-Rufai’s recent criticism of the current administration and his visit to the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in March.
El-Rufai’s political moves are being closely watched, particularly after he was dropped from consideration for a ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu. The former governor has been vocal in his criticism of the current government, recently stating that the federal government is spending more money on petrol subsidies than previous governments.
Some political analysts, including former Senator Shehu Sani, believe that El-Rufai’s meeting with Buhari and Kwankwaso is part of a larger plot by prominent northern politicians to unseat President Tinubu in the next election. However, the details and implications of these political maneuverings remain to be seen.