President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met privately with senior political and government officials at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, just hours before the official commencement of campaigns for the 2027 general election on Wednesday, as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Our correspondent observed Senate President Godswill Akpabio arriving at the forecourt of the President’s office at 6:12 pm in his official S-Class Mercedes sedan.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, was reportedly already inside the Villa, holding a meeting with the President at the time of Akpabio’s arrival.
Also sighted at the corridor leading to the President’s office at about 7:15 pm was Alhassan Ado Doguwa, representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State in the 10th House of Representatives. His arrival came roughly 20 minutes after the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, was seen entering the premises.
Doguwa had earlier participated in the National Peace Committee’s peace accord signing in Abuja.
Oyetola’s visit to the Villa came days after his successor as Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, was declared winner of the August 15 governorship election.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, was also seen at the Presidential Villa within the hour, apparently ahead of the Federal Executive Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
The purpose of the meetings was not made public, as none of the officials spoke with journalists after their visits.
Tuesday’s series of meetings came as INEC fixed August 19, 2026, as the official commencement date for political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election.