The National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has hosted a high-profile gathering of prominent opposition figures from across party lines at his Kano residence during the Sallah celebrations, in a meeting that has fuelled intense speculation about potential coalition-building efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The visitors included the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, now a member of the African Democratic Congress; Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party; and former Bayelsa State Governor Senator Seriake Dickson of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The gathering brought together leaders from four different opposition parties — the NNPP, ADC, PDP, and NDC — at a single venue, an unusual cross-party convergence that political analysts have interpreted as part of broader consultations among opposition figures seeking to present a united front against the ruling APC.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, shared photographs of the gathering on his verified X account, describing the occasion as a joyful celebration.
“Delighted to host Their Excellencies, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, and Seriake Dickson at my Kano residence for this joyful Sallah celebration. Wishing everyone peace, blessings, and prosperity,” Kwankwaso wrote.
The gathering took place during the annual “kalankuwa” event of the Kwankwasiyya movement, which drew a large crowd of supporters to Kwankwaso’s residence.
Speaking at the event, Obi said his visit was to pay Sallah homage to Kwankwaso and felicitate with him and the people of Kano.
“I’m here to felicitate with you on the occasion of the Sallah and to pay my respects to our leader,” Obi told the crowd.
However, beyond the ceremonial purpose of the visit, the former Anambra State Governor used the platform to highlight Kano’s economic challenges and call for the revival of the state’s industrial base.
“We want to change Kano. We want to build a new Kano. What we want to do is to make sure that we bring back the power of Kano,” Obi stated.
He specifically mentioned the industrial hubs of Bompai, Sharada Phase I and Phase II, as well as legacy financial institutions like the Bank of the North, all of which he said should be revived to boost economic activity and create employment opportunities in the state.
Kano was historically Nigeria’s most important northern commercial and industrial centre, home to major manufacturing and processing facilities that have largely declined over the past two decades due to infrastructure challenges, security concerns, and competition from imports.
Obi was careful to frame his visit as non-political, telling the crowd: “Today is not about politics; it is the celebration of Sallah. May Almighty Allah bless all of you.”
Despite Obi’s insistence that the visit was purely for Sallah celebrations, the gathering carries unmistakable political significance given the identities of the attendees and the timing.
Peter Obi is one of three leading contenders for the ADC presidential ticket alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister Chibuike Amaechi. His description of Kwankwaso as “our leader” and the warmth of their interaction suggests a relationship that extends beyond mere courtesy.
Governor Makinde of Oyo State is one of the most prominent PDP governors, aligned with the Damagum-led faction of the party, and remains a key power broker in South-West and national politics as his second term draws to a close.
Senator Dickson, a former Bayelsa governor now in the Nigeria Democratic Congress, represents yet another strand of the fragmented opposition.
Kwankwaso himself was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in 2023, polling over 1.4 million votes, and remains the undisputed political leader in Kano — a state with one of the largest voter populations in Nigeria.
The presence of leaders from four different opposition parties at the same event — at a time when the opposition is actively seeking to build a coalition capable of challenging the APC in 2027 — has prompted analysts to interpret the Sallah gathering as part of quiet but significant cross-party consultations.
Whether these consultations will translate into a formal electoral alliance or coalition arrangement remains to be seen, but the optics of the gathering send a clear signal that key opposition figures are maintaining lines of communication across party boundaries.
The gathering comes against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving political landscape. The ADC has attracted major defections including nine senators, Atiku, and Obi. The PDP remains split between rival factions. The NNPP is repositioning after its strong showing in 2023. And the ruling APC faces growing public discontent over the economy, security, and governance.
With party primaries expected between April 23 and May 30, 2026, and the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, the coming weeks will determine whether the opposition can overcome its internal divisions and present a credible united challenge — or whether the fragmentation that handed victory to the APC in 2023 will repeat itself.
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