Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai held a closed-door meeting on Saturday evening in Kaduna, sparking renewed political conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement after the visit, Atiku said he paid a solidarity call on El-Rufai following a recent attack on him by thugs allegedly sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.

Atiku condemned the actions of the APC under President Bola Tinubu, describing the administration as the “greatest risk to democracy since the return of civilian rule,” and accusing it of transforming into “a full-blown dictatorship.”

He disclosed that the meeting resolved to harmonise efforts towards “rescuing Nigeria” and building what he called a “viable alternative platform” through the ADC.

In a separate video statement, El-Rufai also accused the Tinubu government of running a dictatorship “worse than military rule,” urging Nigerians to unite to bring an end to the administration in 2027.

Both men are among opposition figures now aligning with the ADC in what analysts see as early groundwork for a broader coalition ahead of the next election.