Vice-President Kashim Shettima has held a closed-door meeting with former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, former Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru and other prominent political figures at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, which took place on Monday, comes amid preparations by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 presidential election.
The delegation, identified as leaders of the National Directorate of Arewa for Asiwaju Movement, arrived at the State House at about 4pm before proceeding to the Vice-President’s wing.
Other prominent figures present at the Villa included former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, the Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd.), and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman.
The purpose of the meeting was not immediately disclosed, although the visit was reported to be a courtesy call.
Shettima had been attending a separate meeting at the President’s wing of the Villa when the delegation arrived. That earlier engagement included the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, and the Special Adviser to the President and Coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reform, Professor Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
APC intensifies preparations for 2027
The meeting comes two days before the planned inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday, 14 October, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
The party is also scheduled to begin its presidential campaign in Kaduna State on 24 October, before moving to Port Harcourt and Maiduguri.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari, director-general of the campaign council, announced the dates after briefing President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
Yari said the full campaign timetable would be released after the council’s inauguration.
President Tinubu is seeking re-election in the presidential poll scheduled for 16 January 2027.
Although no official details have emerged linking Monday’s meeting to specific campaign decisions, the gathering comes at a significant moment for the ruling party as it prepares to mobilise political support ahead of the election.
