April 14, (THEWILL) – Former President Muhammadu Buhari who once told associates, particularly of the political kind, to allow him enjoy his peace in his Daura, Katsina State home after serving his second tenure in office, has started to welcome politicians with open heart in his new Kaduna home where he relocated recently.
Within a week, high profile politicians from across the political divide have paid the ex-President post-Salah visits laced with heavy political undertones.
The first delegation was from his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. The second was from the leaders of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
While the governor’s visit could be seen as a party affair, that by the opposition leaders has further sparked discussion of political realignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to a statement released by the media office of former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, “the Waziri Adamawa led a delegation to pay former President Muhammadu Buhari Sallah homage. The visit could not be done during the Sallah celebrations because the PDP leader had to be in Adamawa, holding forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) HRH Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, at some of the activities of the Sallah period.
“Today, (Friday) he was opportuned to lead a delegation that included former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and former Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Bindow Jibrilla, among others, on a post-Sallah visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, 2015-2023, at his residence in Kaduna, Kaduna State.”
Others on the delegation were former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswan, former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Idris Umar, Hon Mohammed Kumalia, Capt. Yahaya Abubakar, Alhaji Musa Halilu (Dujima Adamawa) and Alhaji Salisu Makarfi.
The delegation later joined former President Buhari at the Friday Juma’ah prayer in Kaduna.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the visit, Atiku played down the reason for the visit. He said: “We came here on a courtesy visit and Sallah greeting to President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Asked why he came in the company of politicians from various political parties, he replied: “I have the right to be friends with anyone, political or non-political—they are all my friends.”
However, in a post shared on his X platform, el-Rufai dismissed any political motives behind the visit.
“We joined over faithful for Jumaat prayers at the Yahaya Road Mosque and had a sumptuous lunch at the Buhari Residence,” he wrote. “By the way, our adversaries should not lose any sleep. It is not about politics. It is about unity and brotherhood. And since we are all politically irrelevant, we just prayed and enjoyed lunch with our mentor.”
El-Rufai earlier disclosed that he informed Buhari ahead of his exit from the APC to the Social Democratic Party and that the former president offered prayers and support for his decision.
Buhari reacted, reaffirming his loyalty to the APC despite recent political shifts among his allies.
THEWILL recalls that Atiku, el-Rufai, Senator Tambuwal are currently in the centre of talks about coalition and political realignment against the governing APC ahead of the 2027 General Election. Coming after the APC governor’s Sallah homage to Buhari, the post- Sallah visit by the opposition leaders is seen in the context of their ongoing bid to canvas their narrative in the political space.
Meanwhile, the APC governors’ visit was led by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma. During the visit, the APC delegation held a closed-door meeting with the former President, during which they commended him for his achievements while in office.
According to them, the ex-President’s two- term administration laid a strong foundation for future development in the country.
Largely publicised as a visit to pay Sallah homage to Buhari, the governors have been found out to be agents of the party to seek the former president’s intervention in stopping a feared defection of his loyalists to the SDP, according to reports.
Given the growing dissatisfaction within the party over unfair representation in appointments, worsening economic hardship and insecurity, associates of the ex-president are said to be planning to move in large numbers into the SDP. Many of these associates are said to be from the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the former president’s party that merged with others to form the APC.
The governors, who reportedly held a closed door meeting with Buhari during their visit, painted a picture of gloom for the governing APC should the CPC leave the party as a bloc.
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai had raised eyebrows when he revealed that he informed Buhari and received his blessings before he defected to the SDP recently. A scenario is said to occur soon with similar defections from the APC in the coming months.
There are fears within the APC that if the CPC bloc were to defect, the foundation of the governing party nationwide would be shaken nationwide.
In his usual quiet manner, Buhari is said to have told the visiting governors in coded language to govern their respective states well and always move fast to settle rifts within the party at the state and national levels.
This coded reception is said to have further raised fears about potential defections and their implications for APC’s future. For the former president who expressed his desire to be left in peace after public service, the coming days will be hectic as more visits of similar nature would follow soon. Welcome to renewed politicking ahead of 2027.
Hours after Atiku, el- Rufai and Senator Tambuwal and other’ visit, the ruling APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), paid a visit to the home of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna State.
Alarmed at the political interpretation being given to these visits, Buhari’ spokesperson Garba Shehu, in a statement, said, “Without referring to any individual, cast of characters, or issues, principles and ideals currently being discussed by Party leaders at various levels, former President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated what he’s said times without number, that he is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and would like to be addressed as a loyal member of the party.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
