El-Rufai, Atiku’s Allies Meet SDP Leadership Ahead of 2027 Elections

In a strategic move ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, prominent political figures convened at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) national secretariat in Abuja on January 7, 2025.

The meeting, organized by SDP Chairman Shehu Gabam, included former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retired), and Segun Showunmi, a former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar.

The closed-door session aimed to assess the current state of opposition politics in Nigeria and explore strategies to strengthen it in preparation for the forthcoming elections. Segun Showunmi, in a Facebook post, described the gathering as a “strategic meeting” focused on reviewing opposition democratic engagement in the country.

This development has sparked discussions about potential realignments within Nigeria’s political landscape, especially considering El-Rufai’s recent dismissal of rumors regarding his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). El-Rufai labeled such reports as “patent lies” and indicated that legal action would be taken against those spreading misinformation.

The presence of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha and a presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, further underscores the significance of this meeting. His involvement suggests a concerted effort among opposition figures to forge alliances capable of challenging the ruling party in the upcoming electoral cycle.

While the specific outcomes of the meeting remain undisclosed, this convergence may birth a new turn of political dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections as it could lead to the emergence of a more robust opposition, potentially influencing the electoral landscape in the years to come.