Amid speculation over his visit to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Wednesday, former Kano State governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, said he was in Ibadan to inaugurate the party’s new state office.

Kwankwaso stated that the inauguration forms part of efforts to strengthen the NNPP’s structure and consolidate unity in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He arrived at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, around 1:15 p.m., accompanied by political associates and party officials, and Governor Makinde received him. The governor later led him into a closed-door meeting that lasted about three hours.

While details of the meeting were not disclosed, sources suggested discussions may have touched on political alignments ahead of 2027.

Kwankwaso was accompanied by NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Ajid Ahmed, and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Najipo Johnson.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, he reiterated that his primary mission was to inaugurate the NNPP state office and reinforce party cohesion in Oyo. He added that his engagement with Governor Makinde went beyond partisan interests.

He said, “I am here in Ibadan together with the national chairman of our party, NNPP, Dr. Ajid Ahmed, and other party officials to open our office here and discuss important issues relating to our party in Oyo State.

“But 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. This visit is more about personal friendship than party politics.”

Kwankwaso acknowledged Makinde’s membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that he had deep roots in the PDP before his eventual defection.

“In fact, we formed the PDP in 1998. By 1999, I was elected Governor of Kano State under the PDP and later served as Minister of Defence.

“I also returned to Kano under the PDP and served in various national and international capacities, including as an envoy in Darfur and Somalia,” he recalled.

The NNPP leader added that he later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) before aligning with the NNPP, where he now serves as national leader.

Kwankwaso said after the office inauguration and party meetings, he and his team would return to Abuja.

Political observers see the visit as part of broader consultations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, although both leaders maintained that the engagement was largely personal.

(The Nation)