The Peoples Democratic Party bloc, backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, held a meeting on Wednesday with former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the African Democratic Congress, as part of a political realignment for the 2027 election.
The party leaders reportedly agreed to form a strategic alliance aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming polls.
Impeccable insiders within the PDP and ADC camps, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak publicly, disclosed that the closed-door meeting held at David Mark’s Apo, Abuja residence centred on collaboration between the PDP and ADC, the choice of platform, terms of engagement, and power-sharing arrangements, as consultations continue to deepen.
However, the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in a statement issued by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee through its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, dismissed reports linking the PDP to any alliance talks with the ADC.
Speaking to journalists after the two-hour high-level meeting, Gov Makinde described the gathering as ‘’a show of solidarity.’’
The major opposition parties, the PDP and ADC, are currently grappling with internal leadership crises, marked by the emergence of rival factions and ongoing court disputes.
Additionally, following a recent Court of Appeal ruling, the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has tightened its grip on the PDP, while the Independent National Electoral Commission, on April 1, de-recognised the David Mark-led ADC.
Opposition leaders who were at the Wednesday meeting include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, factional PDP National Chairman Tanimu Turaki, SAN, former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, former Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Peter Obi (Anambra), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, and PDP National Secretary, Taofeeq Arapaja.
Others were the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and his PDP counterpart, Ini Ememobong.
Makinde stated that the meeting aimed to reaffirm their commitment to a genuinely democratic environment in the country.
“We came here to visit the leadership of the ADC. We are on a solidarity visit. We have seen what has been happening within the political space, including the protest today.
“So, we came to show solidarity and to commit to a truly democratic space in our country.”
The governor declined further comment when asked if they had agreed to work together.
After the meeting, Ememobong issued a statement noting that the gathering underscored the need for vigilance against actions that could threaten democratic principles and political plurality.