The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denied claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, alleging that secret political negotiations are underway ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Fayose had alleged that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, agreed to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the African Democratic Congress on the condition that he would become Atiku’s running mate in 2027.
In a post shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Fayose, in a statement titled “Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday,” claimed that Makinde met with Atiku in Minna, Niger State. He described the meeting as carefully arranged and attended by selected individuals to ensure “confidence and acceptability.”
However, reacting in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, dismissed the allegation as false and deliberately misleading.
Shaibu described the report as a “reckless and malicious fabrication,” insisting that Atiku was not involved in any political bargaining as claimed.
“At no time did former Vice President Atiku Abubakar engage in the imaginary horse-trading described in that laughable script,” he said.
He specifically denied claims that there were negotiations over a vice-presidential ticket, discussions about a ₦10 billion contribution, zoning arrangements, delegate assurances, or any secret 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 stated.
He accused Fayose of attempting to stir controversy by dragging other political figures into what he called a fabricated narrative.
According to him, the story was not based on insider knowledge but was instead created to mislead the public and cause unnecessary distraction.
“Atiku Abubakar’s political engagements are broad-based, principled, and national in scope not the narrow, transactional theatrics invented in that publication,” Shaibu added.
The former vice president’s camp urged the public to disregard the claims, maintaining that Atiku does not engage in secret or transactional politics.
“We advise the public to treat the publication with the contempt it deserves,” the statement concluded.
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