…Fayose had alleged that Makinde agreed to dump PDP for ADC.
Abuja, Nigeria – The iNews Times reports that the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed as false and malicious allegations by former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose claiming secret political negotiations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Fayose had alleged that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde agreed to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the condition that he would emerge as Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate in 2027.
The former Ekiti governor made the claim in a statement titled “Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday,” which he posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday.
According to Fayose, Makinde met with Atiku in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday in what he described as a carefully arranged meeting involving selected personalities to ensure “confidence and acceptability.”
However, responding in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the allegation as a “reckless and malicious fabrication.”
“At no time did former Vice President Atiku Abubakar engage in the imaginary horse-trading described in that laughable script,” Shaibu stated.
He specifically denied claims that there were negotiations over a vice-presidential ticket, alleged ₦10 billion financial contributions, zoning arrangements, delegate guarantees, or any clandestine meeting in Dubai.
“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,” Shaibu said.
The Atiku aide accused Fayose of attempting to drag other political figures into what he called a fabricated narrative aimed at generating controversy.
“The story is not insider information. It is insider fiction manufactured to mislead, distract, and provoke,” he added.
Shaibu maintained that Atiku’s political engagements remain broad-based, principled, and national in scope, insisting that the former vice president does not engage in secretive or transactional politics.
“We advise the public to treat the publication with the contempt it deserves,” the statement concluded.
The exchange adds another layer to the unfolding political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 elections, as alliances and party realignments continue to generate speculation across Nigeria’s political landscape.
