Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, and former chief security officer to the late Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha, were among notable political figures who convened in Abuja to discuss strengthening opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Tuesday, was convened by the party’s national chairman, Shehu Gabam.
Other attendees included Segun Showunmi, a former spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar campaign organization, alongside several influential politicians.
The gathering follows recent speculation about el-Rufai’s political moves, including reports suggesting a potential defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he has denied.
In a Facebook post, Showunmi highlighted the meeting’s focus on reviewing the state of opposition politics in Nigeria and developing strategies for greater unity and effectiveness.
“Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, a key meeting was held by His Excellency Shehu Gabam, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), with political figures including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, and Segun Showunmi, known as The Alternative,” he wrote.
He further described the meeting on X (formerly Twitter) as a “strategic session” to discuss democratic engagement and opposition solidarity in preparation for the elections.
The gathering underscores ongoing efforts by opposition parties and leaders to recalibrate their approach and consolidate forces ahead of the next electoral cycle.
