Details have emerged surrounding an alleged closed-door meeting between Abdullahi Sule and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the 2026 lesser hajj, with sources linking the engagement to early political manoeuvres ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
According to findings, Mr Sule, a serving governor under the All Progressives Congress, met Mr Abubakar at the Conrad Jabal Omar Hotel on March 11, 2026. The meeting, said to have lasted approximately two hours, reportedly took place at night during iftar, the Ramadan evening meal.
Sources familiar with the development described the meeting as strategic, focused on possible political realignments that could influence the outcome of the 2027 elections. At the centre of the reported discussions was the ambition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to seek a second term in office.
Mr Abubakar, a longstanding figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, had in 2025 aligned with the African Democratic Congress following his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party. His move was widely interpreted as part of a broader effort to consolidate opposition forces against the incumbent administration.
Governor Sule, who had previously indicated that he might step away from frontline politics after completing his second term, has in recent months signalled a possible return through a senatorial bid in Nasarawa North. Sources said his engagement with Mr Abubakar may be tied to securing political leverage and positioning ahead of that ambition.
One source with knowledge of the meeting said the governor appeared to be “putting his eggs in more than one basket,” reflecting a cautious but calculated approach to the evolving political climate. According to the source, Mr Sule not only expressed support for Mr Abubakar’s presidential bid but also raised the question of power returning to northern Nigeria.
The discussions were also said to include commitments on electoral support. Mr Sule reportedly pledged to mobilise political backing within Nasarawa State in favour of Mr Abubakar should he emerge as the candidate of the ADC in 2027. In return, Mr Abubakar was said to have assured the governor of support for his senatorial ambition, alongside the possibility of securing influential positions within the National Assembly structure.
While the exact financial or logistical commitments discussed remain unclear, the meeting has drawn attention amid speculation about the former vice-president’s political resources. Mr Abubakar has contested multiple presidential elections since 2007 without success, raising questions in some quarters about the sustainability of his political machinery. Past reports have also pointed to challenges faced by some of his business interests during previous administrations.
The alleged meeting comes against a backdrop of growing concern within the ruling party. Insiders have reportedly expressed fears that certain governors and political actors, particularly from northern Nigeria, may reconsider their allegiance as the 2027 race begins to take shape. Comparisons have been drawn to the 2015 general election, when internal divisions within the then-ruling establishment contributed to a transfer of power.
A source within the presidency, speaking anonymously, acknowledged the unease, noting that there were concerns about potential defections or covert alignments that could undermine the ruling party’s electoral strength if Mr Abubakar secures the ADC ticket.
Despite the weight of the claims, neither camp has confirmed that such a meeting took place. Paul Ibe, media aide to Mr Abubakar, said he was not aware of any meeting of that nature but confirmed that the former vice-president travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj and returned shortly after.
Similarly, Ibrahim Addra, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sule, said he could not confirm the meeting but acknowledged that the governor was in Mecca during the period in question for religious observance.
Independent checks indicate that both men were indeed in Saudi Arabia between February and March 2026, during which they also interacted with other associates. Reports suggest that Mr Sule held meetings with political allies, including Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, during his stay.
Mr Abubakar’s visit to Saudi Arabia also included engagements with notable figures. In a post shared earlier in February, the former vice-president disclosed that he hosted Aisha Buhari, wife of former President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside members of her family during their stay for the lesser hajj.
At 79, Mr Abubakar remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent presidential aspirants. His political journey spans decades, beginning with his participation in the 1992 Social Democratic Party primaries, where he lost to the late MKO Abiola. He later emerged as vice-president in 1999, serving alongside former President Olusegun Obasanjo until 2007.
Since leaving office, he has pursued the presidency across multiple platforms, including the Action Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, and most recently the African Democratic Congress. Despite several attempts—in 2007, 2011, 2015 primaries, 2019, and 2023—he has yet to secure electoral victory at the national level.
As Nigeria gradually moves toward another election cycle, the alleged meeting between Governor Sule and Mr Abubakar, though unconfirmed, highlights the quiet but intense political calculations already underway. Whether these alignments will solidify into formal alliances remains uncertain, but the signals suggest that the battle lines for 2027 may already be forming behind closed doors.
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