The two leading opposition leaders, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a closed-door meeting at the residence of former Senate President, David Mark, in the Apo area of Abuja.
The meeting commenced hours after Atiku Abubakar and David Mark led a protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission over recent developments affecting party leadership.
The meeting had in attendace a large number of PDP and ADC members which observers described as strategic among opposition stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections possibly to perfect the plan of defection by Turaki led faction of PDP.
Among those in attendance were former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Others prominent members present included former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Also at the meeting were factional PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; and former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu.
National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, and his counterpart in the Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, also participated in the deliberations.
Although details of the meeting were not made public, sources informed that it might not be unconnected with ongoing engagements among opposition leaders, for re-alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo maintained that ADC leaders who led a protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja yesterday were only playing to the gallery.
Prominent opposition leaders at the demonstration tagged #OccupyINEC included Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, and Dino Melaye.
In an X post, one of the opposition leaders, Peter Obi warned against “killing” democracy in the country through enthronement of a one-party system.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to join hands to help save the nation’s democracy.
But reacting in an X post, Keyamo accused the opposition of playing to the gallery and trying to bend everyone to their will.
According to the senior lawyer, “So, the survival of our democracy is now anchored on the recognition of one faction of one of the 21 registered political parties we have in this country?
“The same faction, even when recognised, could not win a single Council seat in the just-concluded FCT election? Democracy now means their own logic in the media space MUST be accepted and our judiciary processes ignored?
“These fellows think they can blackmail everyone to do their bidding AT ALL COST. “Unfortunately for them, Nigerians are not so gullible.”
