In what many political observers describe as an early step towards strategic realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday evening held a closed-door meeting with prominent figures of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including key allies of the former G5 Governors faction.
The high-level meeting took place at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa and was reportedly convened by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike. Wike, who served as the immediate past governor of Rivers State, played a central role during the last election cycle by leading the influential G5 Governors bloc—a group that famously broke ranks with the PDP leadership and opposed the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Joining Wike at the Saturday meeting were two of his former G5 colleagues—ex-governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State—as well as former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, another PDP heavyweight known for his maverick political moves and open support for Tinubu during the 2023 elections.
Although the Presidency has yet to issue an official statement regarding the details of the parley, sources close to the discussions revealed that the meeting explored the possibility of formal political collaboration and how the former PDP stalwarts could be integrated into the evolving power structure under the Tinubu administration.
Political analysts believe the meeting is a signal that the Tinubu camp is consolidating alliances across party lines, particularly with influential opposition figures who have a history of rebellion against their party’s national leadership. Some sources described the move as a strategic attempt to further weaken the PDP, fortify the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and shape the political landscape ahead of 2027.
It will be recalled that during the 2023 general elections, the G5 Governors—comprising Wike, Ortom, Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo—refused to support Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid, citing issues of equity, fairness, and power rotation within the PDP. Their actions were widely believed to have contributed to the PDP’s loss at the polls and the eventual victory of Bola Tinubu.
With this latest meeting, speculations are rife that President Tinubu may be building a broad-based coalition that transcends party affiliations, potentially reshaping Nigeria’s political dynamics in the years leading up to the next presidential election.
Further engagements are expected as both camps continue to evaluate the terms of cooperation. Political watchers are keeping a close eye on subsequent developments and the potential implications for the PDP’s cohesion and the broader opposition movement.
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