In 2006, Atiku Abubakar, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar met secretly in Kano to plan how power could return to the North in 2007.
The meeting, held at former House of Representatives Speaker Umar Ghali Na'Abba’s residence, was convened by Atiku. Also present was former intelligence chief Halilu Akilu.
The group, according to P.M. News, believed President Olusegun Obasanjo would block both Atiku and Babangida from succeeding him. They therefore agreed that if either man was frustrated, Na'Abba should run instead.
Atiku reportedly backed Na'Abba because of his democratic record as Speaker. He also said Obasanjo was unlikely to support him because of his role in stopping the president’s third-term bid, adding that his main goal was to return power to the North.
Babangida urged the North to remain united, while Abdulsalami asked Na'Abba to publicly declare his presidential ambition and called for a united northern front against demands for a South-South president.
By then, Na'Abba had reportedly begun consulting traditional rulers and other influential figures about the 2007 race.