IN a move that has reignited political speculation, former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, paid a surprise visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday, where the two leaders held a closed-door meeting.
News Point Nigeria gathered that the high-profile meeting, which took place at the President’s official residence, was not open to the media, and the details of their discussions remain undisclosed as at press time.
Kwankwaso had earlier been seen at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025, which held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja before proceeding to the residence for the private session with the president.
This marks the second publicly known meeting between Kwankwaso and President Tinubu in just over two years.
Their last official encounter was on June 9, 2023, barely two weeks after Tinubu’s inauguration, when Kwankwaso became the first presidential contender to visit the new President.
At the time, he told reporters he had discussed “politics and governance” with Tinubu and hinted at the possibility of working together in the future though he did not divulge specifics.
Monday’s meeting is seen by many analysts as potentially significant, especially as Nigeria’s political landscape begins to shift in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso, 67, a towering figure in Northern Nigerian politics and founder of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, is widely viewed as a key political force, particularly in the North-West.
He ran for president in the 2023 elections under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), where he finished fourth overall but secured a decisive victory in Kano State, helping his party win the governorship and dominate the state assembly.
Though the NNPP is not formally part of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition, the renewed effort by opposition parties to unite ahead of 2027 has made Kwankwaso a top target for strategic alliances.
The ADC coalition, announced weeks ago, is seeking to bring together various political movements and influential figures to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next electoral cycle.
Observers say any potential deal or realignment involving Kwankwaso would reshape the opposition calculus, particularly given his grassroots strength in Northern Nigeria.
Efforts by News Point Nigeria to obtain official confirmation or context regarding the meeting proved inconclusive.
Presidency sources, speaking on background, said the meeting was held within the President’s private residence and limited to a small circle, making details scarce.
“It wasn’t a scheduled or announced meeting. As it happened at the residence, most aides and staff were not present, just the Chief Of Staff was in the meeting” a source told News Point Nigeria.
Political observers have noted the timing of the meeting, as it comes at a period when the APC is trying to consolidate its base while facing growing discontent over economic hardships and insecurity.
With Tinubu’s approval ratings slow-rising and opposition parties warming up to potential alliances, Kwankwaso’s re-engagement with the President whether strategic or conciliatory has raised eyebrows across political circles.
As speculation builds, both the Presidency and Kwankwaso’s camp have yet to issue formal statements about the outcome or purpose of the private conversation.