Former Kano State Governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Wednesday dismissed speculations surrounding his visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, saying he was in Ibadan to inaugurate the party’s new state office.
Kwankwaso said the inauguration was part of efforts to strengthen the NNPP’s structure and consolidate unity in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso arrived at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, around 1:15 p.m., accompanied by political associates and party officials. Makinde received him and later led him into a closed-door meeting that lasted about three hours.
Although details of the meeting were not disclosed, sources hinted that discussions might have touched on political alignments ahead of 2027.
Kwankwaso was accompanied by the NNPP National Chairman, Dr Ajid Ahmed, and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the former governor maintained that his primary mission was to inaugurate the NNPP state office and reinforce party cohesion in Oyo State.
He said, “I am here in Ibadan together with the national chairman of our party, NNPP, Dr. Ajid Ahmed, and other party officials to open our office here and discuss important issues relating to our party in Oyo State.
“But before proceeding to the party office, I felt it was important to pay a courtesy visit to the governor, who has always been our friend. This visit is more about personal friendship than party politics.”
Kwankwaso acknowledged Makinde’s membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, recalling his own political journey within the PDP before his eventual defection.
“In fact, we formed the PDP in 1998. By 1999, I was elected Governor of Kano State under the PDP and later served as Minister of Defence.
“I also returned to Kano under the PDP and served in various national and international capacities, including as an envoy in Darfur and Somalia,” he said.
The NNPP leader noted that he later joined the All Progressives Congress before aligning with the NNPP, where he now serves as national leader.
Kwankwaso added that after the inauguration of the party office and meetings with stakeholders, he and his team would return to Abuja.
