Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai met on Saturday evening in Kaduna in what is being described as a major step towards consolidating opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, in a statement after the visit, 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 Kaduna.

The former vice president condemned 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 having “turned into a full-blown dictatorship.”

According to him, the meeting resolved to harmonise efforts toward “rescuing Nigeria” and building what he called a “viable alternative platform” through the ADC.

In a video released after the meeting, El-Rufai also accused the Tinubu government of authoritarianism, claiming it is “worse than military rule.” He urged Nigerians to unite and ensure Tinubu’s tenure ends in 2027.

Both Atiku and El-Rufai are now among leading opposition figures working with the ADC as part of preparations for the 2027 polls, in what analysts say could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.