President Bola Tinubu has moved to ease simmering tensions between the executive and the legislature, holding a closed-door strategy session with the leadership of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting, which followed an earlier Iftar gathering with federal lawmakers, was convened to forge a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections and to steady relations that insiders admit have recently been strained.

According to senior parliamentary sources, Tinubu used the session to warn against public spats between both arms of government, particularly the rowdy exchanges that have marked recent plenary sittings in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Budget implementation disputes and contentious proposals in the ongoing constitutional amendment process have fuelled perceptions of disunity within the governing structure, prompting concern in the Presidency about the potential impact on policy delivery and investor confidence.

Those at the meeting included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, a key ally of the President.

A federal lawmaker familiar with the discussions said Tinubu urged the leaders to “put their houses in order” as political activities build toward 2027, stressing that disagreements must be managed without paralysing governance or undermining reform efforts.

Analysts note that while friction between the executive and legislature is a normal feature of democracy, the frequency and intensity of recent clashes have raised questions about coordination within the ruling coalition and the fate of key policy initiatives.

Presidency officials are understood to be particularly keen to avoid prolonged stand-offs over appropriations and constitutional changes, fearing that such disputes could be weaponised by opposition parties in the run-up to the polls.

However, the House of Representatives has downplayed suggestions of a crisis. House spokesman Akin Rotimi described the Villa engagement as routine, insisting that regular consultations between the President and parliamentary leaders are essential for aligning legislative priorities with national policy goals.

Observers say the latest outreach underscores Tinubu’s recognition that securing a stable, cooperative legislature will be critical not only for passing reforms in the remaining years of his term but also for shaping the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.