By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, alleging that he engaged in political horse-trading with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde during a recent meeting in Minna, Niger State.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described Fayose’s account of the Minna meeting as a “reckless and malicious fabrication.”
Fayose had, in a publication titled “Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday,” alleged that Atiku and Makinde discussed a potential vice-presidential arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections, including financial commitments and zoning considerations.
However, Shaibu dismissed the claims as entirely false, insisting that no such negotiations took place during the visit to former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB).
“At no time did former Vice President Atiku Abubakar engage in the imaginary horse-trading described in that laughable script,” Shaibu said.
“There were no negotiations over vice-presidential tickets. There were no discussions about ₦10 billion contributions. There were no zoning manipulations. There were no delegate-delivery guarantees. And there is certainly no clandestine ‘Dubai meeting’ on any such agenda,” he added.
Atiku, alongside Governor Makinde and other political figures, had visited Babangida in Minna earlier this week in what aides described as a courtesy call on the elder statesman. The visit has since generated political speculation, particularly in the context of realignments and consultations ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former vice president, who has remained active in national political discourse, is widely seen as a key opposition figure, and his engagements across party lines have attracted scrutiny amid shifting alliances within the political landscape.
Shaibu, however, maintained that the Minna visit was not a platform for secret political bargaining, describing Fayose’s narrative as a “tissue of lies” authored by a “serial purveyor of political gossip.”
The statement further characterised the allegations as “insider fiction” manufactured by individuals seeking political relevance through controversy.
According to Shaibu, dragging other political actors into the alleged narrative did not lend credibility to the claims but instead exposed desperation.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s political engagements are broad-based, principled, and national in scope — not the narrow, transactional theatrics invented in that publication,” he said.
He stressed that Atiku does not conduct politics through secrecy or inducements.
“He does not transact politics in secrecy, bribery, or transactional desperation,” Shaibu said, adding that the former vice president remains focused on what he described as national redemption rather than “backroom theatrics.”
The rebuttal comes amid heightened political activities and consultations across party lines, as various stakeholders position themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle. While Atiku has not formally declared any intention regarding 2027, his continued engagements with prominent political leaders have fueled public debate.
