The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is surprised by the Eid-el-Fitr gathering hosted by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), which brought together prominent opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Seriake Dickson.
The meeting, held at Kwankwaso’s residence in Kano, also attracted Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
It was part of the Sallah celebrations and included photo opportunities of the opposition figures, which Kwankwaso shared on his official X handle.
Kwankwaso described the gathering as a moment of unity and joyous celebration.
“Delighted to host Their Excellencies, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, and Seriake Dickson at my Kano residence for this joyful Sallah celebration,” he wrote. “Wishing everyone peace, blessings, and prosperity.”
Meanwhile, APC’s Publicity Secretary, Auwal Mai-Nage, described the gathering as unexpected and questioned its timing and political relevance, suggesting it may not resonate with local dynamics.
“We are genuinely surprised to see Kwankwaso and Peter Obi aligning in this manner.
“This is a Muslim gathering, yet Obi is widely perceived as having limited engagement with Muslim communities. For Kwankwaso to prioritise such alliances over local considerations raises serious questions about his political strategy.”
He also criticised the turnout of participants, suggesting that it was far below expectations for an event featuring prominent national figures.
“For an event that brought together two presidential candidates and key opposition leaders, the attendance was notably low. Even a local government chairman in Kano can mobilise a larger crowd,” he said.
Mai-Nage further alleged that Obi’s political moves were driven by regional considerations and expressed disappointment that Kwankwaso, a long-standing political figure in the North, would endorse such alignments.
However, observers see this meeting as a possible sign of opposition realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially given Kwankwaso’s previous closed-door meeting with Makinde in Ibadan.
