Obasanjo arrived in the Niger State capital via the Ahmed Bola Tinubu International Airport, where he was received by protocol officials from the Government House before heading straight to Babangida’s residence.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday visited former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), at his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State, sparking renewed speculation over political manoeuvres ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obasanjo arrived in the Niger State capital via the Ahmed Bola Tinubu International Airport, where he was received by protocol officials from the Government House before heading straight to Babangida’s residence.
The visit was brief and conducted away from the public eye.
According to sources quoted by Daily Trust, the two former leaders held a closed-door meeting that lasted about 30 minutes. “There was no interaction with the media or political stakeholders. After the meeting, Obasanjo returned to the airport,” one source said.
Although no official explanation was given for the visit, another source suggested it was connected to ongoing national consultations.
“Given the political climate and the early momentum around 2027, such a meeting cannot be viewed as ordinary,” the source noted.
Obasanjo has recently been mentioned in reports linking him to emerging political permutations aimed at forming a strong opposition coalition ahead of the next general election.
The reports claim he is associated with efforts to produce a joint presidential ticket involving former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The proposed arrangement, according to the reports, is designed to challenge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the ADC presidential ticket, and, if successful, to present a united front against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s expected re-election bid in 2027.
“There is also talk of a backup plan for the duo to contest on another platform if the ADC route fails,” a political source said.
In the same vein, Babangida has been linked to reports that he encouraged Kwankwaso to dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the ADC, a move analysts believe forms part of a broader opposition realignment strategy.
Both Obasanjo and Babangida have remained silent on the reports. Nevertheless, political observers say their meeting has “added fresh fuel to ongoing discussions about high-level consultations and strategic planning ahead of 2027.”