My Meeting With Makinde Based On Friendship, Not Politics Says – Kwankwaso

By Christianah Oladosu,Osogbo

The 2023 presidential candidate and the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, says his closed-door meeting with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan was a courtesy visit based on long-standing personal friendship, not political alliance talks.

Kwankwaso met Makinde on Wednesday at the governor’s office during a visit to Oyo State to inaugurate the party’s new office and hold internal consultations with national officials.

Speaking with journalists after the two-hour meeting, Kwankwaso dismissed speculation that the engagement was linked to possible 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.”

He acknowledged Makinde’s membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and reflected on his own political history within the party, stating that he was among those who formed the PDP in 1998 and was elected governor of Kano State under its platform in 1999 before later serving as Minister of Defence.

Kwankwaso added that he subsequently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and later aligned with the NNPP, where he currently serves as national leader.

He later inaugurated the NNPP office in Ibadan, explaining that the move was aimed at strengthening the party’s presence in the state capital ahead of the 2027 general election.