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Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha, Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chairman Shehu Gabam, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Segun Sowunmi convened a strategic meeting on Tuesday to assess the state of opposition democratic engagement in Nigeria.
The meeting, called by Gabam, was disclosed in a post on X by Sowunmi, who described it as a platform to evaluate the alternative political landscape.
“You must set forth at dawn, a strategic meeting called by HE Shehu Gabam, Chairman of SDP, with HE @elrufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, and Otunba Segun Sowunmi,” Sowunmi wrote. “The alternative, to meet and greet and review the state of opposition democratic engagement in Nigeria.”
The gathering follows recent speculation about El-Rufai’s political affiliation. Rumors had suggested the former governor might defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, claims he has consistently denied.
Addressing the rumors, El-Rufai wrote on X: “Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the leading peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers.”
This isn’t the first time such speculation has surfaced. In 2022, presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala claimed El-Rufai would join the PDP before the 2023 general election, prompting a firm rebuttal from the former governor.
“Thanks @BwalaDaniel but no, thanks,” El-Rufai responded at the time. “Never ever, not even my corpse will be found in the vicinity of your newfound political party. I still dey laugh.”
The Tuesday meeting highlights ongoing efforts to redefine opposition politics in Nigeria as the country prepares for its next electoral cycle.
