Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, joined other opposition figures at a strategic meeting held at the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja as part of moves to strengthen opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Among those in attendance was Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), the 2023 presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) and former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha.

While specific details of the meeting were not disclosed, it is widely believed to be part of efforts to unite opposition forces under a formidable political platform to challenge the ruling party in 2027.

El-Rufai, who has grown critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, has remained politically active despite his exclusion from the ministerial list last year. His nomination, along with those of Sani Danladi and Stella Okotete, was withheld by the Senate due to security reports from the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

Segun Showunmi, a former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, confirmed the meeting in a Facebook post:
“You must set forth at dawn! A strategic meeting called by H.E. Shehu Gabam, Chairman of SDP, with H.E. Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Otunba Segun Showunmi. The Alternative to meet, greet, and review the state of opposition democratic engagement in Nigeria.”

This meeting coincides with a call by Dr. Salihu Lukman, former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (North West), urging opposition leaders to form a unified platform capable of defeating President Tinubu in 2027.

In a New Year message titled “Political Competition Should Define New Nigeria,” Lukman encouraged Nigerians to work toward creating a functional political party that upholds democratic principles distinct from those of the APC, PDP, LP, and NNPP. Lukman, who resigned from the APC last year, emphasized that achieving this would guarantee the election of truly democratic leaders rather than authoritarian figures.