From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The recent visits to the Kaduna home of the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, by several political bigwigs, may have suddenly conferred on him the new status of a man with the Midas political touch to decide where the pendulum of the 2027 presidential election will swing to.
This is so because the residence has so far attracted both long-time political allies and former critics that fiercely opposed his leadership style from both the ruling and opposition parties, to seek his ears and endorsements.
For many pundits, the decision to suddenly turn to Buhari in the build-up to the 2027 presidential poll is surprisingly a clear departure from the previous trend where two former heads of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ibrahim Babangida were conferred with the singular honours of determining the political path of most presidential hopefuls.
And with the benefit of hindsight, the visits are also a confirmation that Buhari has not only suddenly assumed the status of the new Sheriff in town with the responsibility of not only plotting the political graph but also becoming Mr. fix it.
The new role is clearly understandable. He is seen as the man with the magic wand to break the barrier of animosity, grievances, and the growing dissatisfaction of the northern region with the Tinubu-led administration.
On daily and weekly basis, the lists of visitors have continued to grow. From the members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by its chairman and governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, to many of the disgruntled politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties, the visits have continued to dominate political discourse in recent times.
The prominent political figures on the long list of party chieftains who have so far visited include politicians behind the coalition for the 2027 presidential election, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, his Imo and Adamawa states counterparts, Achike Udenwa, and Jibrilla Bindow respectively, and Mohammed Kumalia among others.
Similarly, the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, also led a high-powered delegation of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members to the Buhari’s Kaduna residence, recently.
Taunting the ruling party not to lose any sleep over their visit to Buhari, El-Rufai, said “we joined other faithful for Jumaat prayers at the Yahaya Road Mosque and had a sumptuous lunch at the Buhari Residence. By the way, our adversaries should not lose any sleep. It is not about politics. It is about unity and brotherhood. And since we are all politically irrelevant, we just prayed and enjoyed lunch with our mentor.”
On his part, Atiku had claimed that the visit was primarily for Sallah celebrations not for any discussions on the planned coalition of political parties, emphasising that “we came here on a courtesy and Sallah greetings visit to ex-President Buhari. There is a plan for major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of this visit.”
He had earlier taken to his verified social media handles to announce the visit, describing it as a “wonderful time” with former President Buhari.
Expectedly, dismissing the visits as posing any serious threat to the ruling party, APC National Chairman had emphasised during the visit by the NWC that his party is not worried about whatever moves the coalition is making to challenge and wrest power from the incumbent President Tinubu.
He told newsmen on the sidelines that “we are not worried at all. This is just history trying to repeat itself. They went on a joint venture, which will not work because from what we have seen, there are just some particles that cannot come together.
“It is a game, and we will not reveal our technicalities on how to handle it, but we assure you, we are equal to the task. We are eyeing other states that will come into our fold. Either the governors themselves will come, or we go for election and defeat them to increase our tally. We are comfortable, but we are not resting. We shall continue,” Ganduje said.
Although both sides of the divide were economical with the truth on the real motive behind their visits, many Nigerians would be surprised to see that all roads now suddenly lead to Buhari’s residence.
Regardless, the visits were clearly more than a courtesy call. It, more or less, symbolised a strategic realignment designed to leverage on Buhari’s influence, exploit his cult-following loyal base, and send a warning signal to the presidency that the North is quietly consolidating its political strength, in response to what they see as growing sense of marginalisation. The intrigue, however, is the fact that both the visitors and their host are keeping the crux of their mission to their chests amidst growing speculations that Buhari’s original political base, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc within the APC might be considering a defection to the SDP.
However, from experiences, the question begging for an answer is whether anybody can confidently go to the bank with Buhari’s support and more importantly, whether he still commands deep loyalty and respect in the North after what many pundits considered the poor performance of his administration and the disaffection that trailed his years in power?
However, regardless of the convictions of the pundits, what may be incontrovertible is that, Buhari’s Kaduna residence will, for now, continue to be a revolving door for political actors seeking relevance, validation, or strategy ahead of the coming elections. Both the ruling APC and the opposition forces understand that his blessing or even his silence could up the scales.
This is because many still believed that Buhari’s grip on the political pulse of Northern Nigeria remains firm. And as 2027 inches closer, it is increasingly evident that Kaduna may very well be the new compass by which national political winds are charted.
And aligning with the perception, vociferous Borno State-born lawmaker, Senator Ali Ndume, in his clear warning message noted that unless the Tinubu-led administration meaningfully addresses Northern concerns, Buhari’s neutrality or silent withdrawal of support could reshape the 2027 electoral battlefield.
He recently argued that; “Buhari’s followership has diminished naturally because it is different when you are not in power and after spending like eight years in power. Of course, his popularity, and everything has diminished, it is natural, but you can’t write him off, especially with the Northern masses. The followership of Buhari has been occultic. You cannot explain it.
“If Buhari is coming here now, you will see people rushing to see. Everybody including those in the vegetable market will rush here. Buhari is still with the Talakawas.
“Tinubu should be worried if Buhari is not on his side. Every number count and Buhari has one vote. Tinubu should also be worried about my position because I have one vote for him. He does not have a vote for me. Let the President forget about everything and concentrate on three things, security, the welfare of citizens, and the economy. His attention should go there as number one, then he should create a state of emergency in those areas,” Ndume advised.
For the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), High Chief Peter Ameh, the political pilgrimage to Buhari’s Kaduna residence is a reflection of Tinubu’s challenges and symptoms of his struggling administration.
Ameh, in a chat with the Daily Sun, noted that the resurgence of high-profile visits to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna and Daura, particularly by political heavyweights from Northern Nigeria, signals a deeper undercurrent of discontent within the country’s political landscape.
He explained that; “Buhari, widely regarded as a politically relevant figure in the North, has become a focal point for both opposition and ruling party leaders. The significance of these visits, especially in the light of the actions of the Tinubu-led administration, cannot be overstated. They reflect a growing unease about the government’s performance and its handling of the delicate balance within the APC,” he argued.
Explaining his viewpoint further, the former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) noted that; “the recent rush by the APC National Chairman, Ganduje, to visit Buhari, hot on the heels of a coalition of Northern opposition leaders led by Atiku and El-Rufai, betrays a palpable fear within the ruling party. These opposition figures, known for their influence in the North, appear to be leveraging on Buhari’s enduring political clout to signal a challenge to the status quo. The APC’s swift response suggests an acknowledgment that such visits carry weight far beyond mere courtesy—they hint at potential realignments or pressures that could destabilise the party’s unity.
“This anxiety within the APC is not baseless; it stems from the Tinubu administration’s failure to inspire confidence two years into its tenure. If the Tinubu-led government had delivered tangible results, Nigeria would not find itself in what feels like a perpetual campaign mode so early in its term. Governance is not about rhetoric or explanations, but about outcomes that citizens can see, feel, and experience,” he argued.
Turning into a prophet of doom to wrap up his contributions, Ameh noted: “Unfortunately, the vox populi paints a grim picture: Nigeria’s state of affairs is widely perceived as dire. From escalating insecurity to economic hardship, the disconnect between the government’s promises and the realities of Nigerians have fuelled disillusionment.
“This failure to perform has created fertile ground for political manoeuvring, as evidenced by the pilgrimage to Buhari’s doorstep. Tinubu’s apparent prioritisation of certain factions within the APC, particularly the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc, is compounding these challenges at the expense of others. His administration’s deliberate side-lining of the CPC bloc, which Buhari represents, has caused significant discontent among party members.
“The over-concentration of appointments and projects in Lagos, the stronghold of the ACN, has further alienated key stakeholders, particularly in the North. This lopsided approach to governance undermines the coalition that brought the APC to power and risks fracturing its fragile unity.
“The visits to Buhari’s residence are not merely symbolic; they are a barometer to measure Tinubu administration’s vulnerabilities. They underscore the reality that political relevance in Nigeria is tied to delivering results and maintaining inclusivity. Buhari’s home has become a stage where both allies and adversaries signal their intentions, and the APC’s nervous response reveals its awareness of the stakes.
“If Tinubu’s government is to regain its footing, it must move beyond explanations and focus on performance that resonates with Nigerians across regions and party lines. Until then, the political pilgrimage to Daura or Kaduna will remain a stark reminder of a government struggling to hold its coalition and the country together,” Ameh argued.