Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi were spotted together in conversation at the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference (ATC), taking place at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge.
The unexpected meeting of the two political figures, who hail from opposing sides of Nigeria’s political landscape, has sparked speculation given the country’s evolving pre-2027 power dynamics.
Okay.ng reports that El-Rufai was listed as one of the official speakers at the conference, which gathers African leaders, scholars, and changemakers to engage on the continent’s development challenges and opportunities. Obi’s presence at the event, though not publicly listed as a speaker, added to the intrigue surrounding their interaction.
While Peter Obi ran for president in 2023 under the Labour Party, El-Rufai — who previously served under the All Progressives Congress (APC) — recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and has been linked to ongoing coalition efforts spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku, who lost the 2023 election alongside Obi, recently declared intentions to unite opposition forces to challenge the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
