By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has held a closed-door meeting with former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), and political leaders from the North-East and North-Central regions as consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The meeting took place on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with discussions reportedly centred on political cooperation, security challenges and development issues affecting communities across the two geopolitical zones.

The gathering is also believed to be part of ongoing efforts to strengthen political support for Tinubu ahead of the next general elections, scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027, according to the report.

Among those who attended were Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa (retd.), and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentanwe Yilwatda.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Dogara said the delegation visited the President to demonstrate solidarity with his administration and discuss ways of mobilising additional support for him within their respective communities.

He explained that the engagement was particularly important as political activities gradually gathered momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the former Speaker, the delegation also used the opportunity to discuss issues affecting their communities and how political leaders could contribute to addressing them.

Dogara further expressed satisfaction with what he described as significant improvements in the country’s security situation, particularly in areas that previously experienced frequent attacks by insurgents, bandits and kidnappers.

Although he acknowledged that some security challenges remained in certain parts of the country, he maintained that government interventions had helped reduce the scale of violence.

He specifically referenced the Abuja-Kaduna route, which had previously become notorious for kidnappings and attacks on travellers.

Dogara recalled the attack on a moving train along the corridor, describing the improvement in the security situation as encouraging.

He said the progress recorded so far should not be mistaken for a complete victory against insecurity but insisted that the situation had improved considerably.

The former lawmaker also credited some of the developments to the appointment of individuals familiar with the security challenges facing affected communities into strategic government positions.

He expressed hope that sustained efforts and effective leadership would eventually bring lasting peace to troubled areas.

Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang highlighted ongoing efforts by political and community leaders to restore trust and strengthen relationships among communities affected by ethnic and religious divisions.

According to him, leaders in the state have been working together to promote reconciliation and encourage peaceful coexistence.

Mutfwang explained that the growing cooperation among political leaders was gradually influencing residents, particularly young people, to embrace dialogue and mutual understanding.

He said political leaders were deliberately demonstrating unity by appearing together, communicating common messages and encouraging people from different backgrounds to work towards peace.

The governor also disclosed that youth leaders from different ethnic and religious groups had started holding discussions independently, without necessarily waiting for government intervention.

He described the development as an encouraging sign that grassroots reconciliation efforts were beginning to produce positive results.

Mutfwang expressed optimism that continued dialogue and cooperation would help address longstanding divisions in Plateau State and create a more stable environment for future generations.

He added that his administration remained committed to sustaining the peacebuilding initiatives, expressing hope that past conflicts would eventually become a thing of history.

The meeting at Aso Villa comes amid growing political consultations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Tinubu’s supporters and political allies expected to intensify efforts to consolidate support across different regions of the country.