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The Digest:

President Bola Tinubu is holding separate meetings with two state governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC, arrived first, followed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who remains a prominent figure in the opposition PDP. The meetings, occurring against a backdrop of political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, mark Mutfwang's first known engagement with Tinubu since switching parties. Governor Makinde is widely speculated to be positioning himself for the PDP's presidential nomination.

Key Points:
  • These consultations underscore the early, high-level political maneuvering and coalition-building preceding the 2027 elections.
  • The meetings highlight President Tinubu's strategy of engaging governors across party lines to foster national cohesion and potentially widen his political influence.
  • For Governor Mutfwang, the engagement is a key step in integrating into the ruling party's structure following his defection.
  • For Governor Makinde, maintaining a dialogue with the presidency while in the opposition could be a strategic balancing act for his national ambitions.
  • The parallel visits signal that state executives remain pivotal power brokers in Nigeria's evolving political landscape.
The outcomes of these closed-door meetings will be closely watched for signals regarding future political alliances and the evolving strategies of both the ruling and opposition parties.

Sources: The Punch, Daily Trust