Speculations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently held a secret meeting with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have been debunked.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that credible sources within the Presidency, as well as individuals close to the former Kano State governor, have dismissed claims of any such meeting.
Reports circulated earlier in the week suggested that Kwankwaso, the leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), met privately with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The alleged meeting was said to have occurred following Kwankwaso’s attendance at the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit, held at the State House Conference Centre.
However, multiple sources have firmly denied that any such engagement took place.
A top aide to Kwankwaso clarified that the former governor was at the Villa strictly for the summit and had no political meeting with the president.
“That narrative is far from the truth. Kwankwaso was only at the Villa for the stated conference and nothing more,” Daily Trust quoted the aide.
Presidency officials also refuted the claim. Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, described the report as “fake news.”
Another presidential source added, “There was nothing like that. If a meeting took place, whether at the residence or in the office, it would be known. Take it from me—there was no such meeting.”
The rumour gained traction amid rising speculations of a possible alliance between Tinubu and Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general election. The talks were believed to have gained momentum following the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s political rival—l, as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ganduje’s exit was seen by many as removing a major obstacle to Kwankwaso’s potential return to the ruling party.
However, that possibility now seems to have faded away. In a recent appearance at a Kano State government event, Kwankwaso criticised the Tinubu administration for allegedly sidelining the North in projects.
“Let me advise those who are struggling by all means to take everything to remember that some of the issues that we have in this part of the country today have to do with the lack of enough resources and mismanagement of the little that comes in. That is why we have insecurity, we have poverty and so on. It is happening here mainly, but like a desert, it would go everywhere,” Kwankwaso said.
He continued: “Yesterday (Wednesday), I was to come by air, but unfortunately, my airline decided to shift our takeoff from 3pm to 8pm. I had to come by road. From Abuja to Kaduna to Kano was a hell.”
The comments, televised live were made during a stakeholders’ forum on the 2025 Constitution Amendment.
In response, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the President, Sunday Dare, dismissed Kwankwaso’s criticisms.
Taking to X, he said the former governor’s remarks did not reflect the “facts on the ground.” Dare then listed over 40 projects being undertaken by the Tinubu administration in Northern Nigeria.
