President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday held a series of closed-door meetings with senior political and government officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, hours before the official commencement of campaigns for the 2027 general election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Wednesday, August 19, 2026, as the start of political campaigns ahead of the elections.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, arrived at the forecourt of the President’s office at about 6.12pm in his official Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, was reportedly already at the Villa for a meeting with the President when Akpabio arrived.
The member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, was later seen arriving at the corridor leading to the President’s office at about 7.15pm.
His arrival came roughly 20 minutes after the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, was sighted at the Villa.
Doguwa had earlier attended the National Peace Committee’s peace accord signing ceremony in Abuja.
Oyetola’s visit came days after his successor as Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, was declared the winner of the state’s August 15 governorship election.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, was also seen at the Presidential Villa during the evening, ahead of the Federal Executive Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
The purpose of the various meetings was not disclosed, as none of the officials spoke to journalists after their engagements with the President.
The flurry of high-level meetings came as the country entered a new phase of political activity, with INEC’s timetable providing for the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 general election on August 19, 2026.
