Political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections appear to be gathering momentum as key opposition figures met over the weekend amid deepening internal divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, and Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, held a closed-door meeting with Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa West, in Bauchi on Sunday.
Shortly after the meeting, Makinde and Dickson travelled to Kano where they joined former Kano State governor and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party Nigeria, Peter Obi.
Although the gathering was officially linked to the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, sources close to the meeting suggested that discussions may also be connected to emerging political alignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The Kano meeting coincided with the 10th annual Dandalin Kwankwasiyya, a political and social gathering held at Kwankwaso’s residence on Miller Road in Kano, which drew supporters and political stakeholders from across the country.
PDP crisis deepens
The consultations come at a time when reconciliation efforts within the PDP appear to be faltering, particularly between the governors’ bloc and the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
After months of internal disputes, the party split into two rival camps following a controversial national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, where Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and other members were elected into the National Working Committee.
In response, the Wike-aligned faction established a 13-member National Caretaker Working Committee in December, appointing Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman and Samuel Anyanwu as acting national secretary.
The leadership dispute later moved to the courts. On March 9, the Court of Appeal Nigeria nullified the Ibadan convention, ruling that the process violated provisions of the Electoral Act, the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP constitution.
War of words
Amid the tension, Makinde criticised the faction aligned with Wike, alleging that their political stance could indirectly benefit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027.
According to him, anyone aligning with Wike’s bloc may effectively be supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid.
However, Bala Mohammed struck a more conciliatory tone, insisting that reconciliation within the PDP remained possible.
“There are no irreconcilable issues in Nigeria, especially within the political and national space,” he said, adding that conflict-resolution efforts were still ongoing.
Convention controversy
Meanwhile, the Wike-backed PDP leadership insisted that its national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30, 2026 would proceed as planned.
Speaking in Abuja, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said court judgments had affirmed the legitimacy of the caretaker committee currently managing the party’s affairs.
However, the Turaki-aligned camp dismissed allegations that it was attempting to secure a court injunction to stop the convention, describing the claims as blackmail.
Its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, maintained that the governors’ faction remained committed to reconciliation and dialogue.
Political signals
Observers believe the Kano consultations involving Makinde, Kwankwaso and Obi may signal broader discussions about opposition collaboration ahead of the 2027 elections, especially as internal divisions continue to weaken the PDP.
Sources close to the meeting hinted that more political consultations are expected in the coming weeks, which may clarify the direction of emerging alliances among opposition leaders.
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