In a clear display of political maneuvering, top politicians across party lines are scrambling to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari, using courtesy calls to make deeper political statements.
On Friday, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, led a high-profile delegation of the party’s National Working Committee to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna. This visit came just hours after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accompanied by several ex-governors and former ministers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), also paid a courtesy call on the former president.
While both camps insist the visits were mere Sallah greetings, analysts see them as part of an ongoing battle for political relevance and influence.
Notably, the PDP’s visit featured notable figures like Nasir el-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, and Abubakar Malami—raising eyebrows over their current political leanings.
El-Rufai attempted to downplay the implications, stating, “It was not political… it was for unity and brotherhood,” while Atiku took to social media to clarify his visit as part of Sallah obligations.
However, the APC’s visit appears to be a calculated counter-move, especially amid recent internal cracks and defections within the ruling party.
With speculations of realignments and coalition talks swirling, the race to Buhari’s doorstep signals that even in retirement, the former president remains a powerful symbol in Nigeria’s political chessboard.