The national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, says his recent closed-door meeting with Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, was a courtesy visit rooted in personal friendship rather than any political alliance-building.
Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Kano, met Makinde on Wednesday at the governor’s office in Ibadan.
The session, which lasted about two hours, came as Kwankwaso visited Oyo to inaugurate the NNPP’s new office in the state and discuss internal party matters with national officials, including Ajuji Ahmed, national chairman of NNPP; Ladipo Johnson, the publicity secretary of the party; and Buba Galadima, secretary of board of trustees.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Kwankwaso downplayed speculation linking the engagement to potential cross-party realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
“This visit is more about personal friendship than party politics,” he said.
“Governor Makinde and I have known each other for a long time. Before proceeding to our party engagement in the state, I felt it was proper to pay him a courtesy call.”
No details of their conversation were disclosed by either side.
The meeting nonetheless sparked interest among political observers, given the recent loss of Kwankwaso’s stronghold of Kano to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano and Kwankwaso’s protege, formalised his defection from the NNPP to the APC on January 26, 2026.
