Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday dismissed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over an alleged political deal involving Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as “desperate” and “baseless.”
Fayose, however, threatened to expose details of the Minna meeting with former Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida.
The reaction followed reports of a closed-door meeting between Atiku and Makinde at Babangida’s Minna residence, which sparked speculation about a possible 2027 political arrangement.
Following the meeting, Fayose claimed in a Wednesday statement that Makinde had offered to join the African Democratic Congress as Atiku’s 2027 running mate, promising ₦10 billion to help the party get started and to deliver delegates to secure Atiku’s ADC presidential ticket.
Fayose concluded that the duo had fixed another meeting for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to conclude negotiations.
Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said he did not engage in any of the alleged horse-trading as alleged by Fayose.
He emphasised that no discussions took place regarding ₦10 billion contributions or zoning arrangements.
“Our attention has been drawn to a reckless and malicious fabrication titled ‘Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday,’ attributed to one Peter Ayodele Fayose.
“Let it be stated clearly: the entire publication is a shameless concoction — a tissue of lies stitched together by a serial purveyor of political gossip whose relevance survives only on controversy, distortion, and cheap propaganda.
“At no time did former Vice President Atiku Abubakar engage in the imaginary horse-trading described in that laughable script.
“There were no negotiations over vice-presidential tickets. There were no discussions about N10bn contributions. There were no zoning manipulations. There were no delegate-delivery guarantees. And there is certainly no clandestine ‘Dubai meeting’ on any such agenda.”
The former vice president called on the public to dismiss the publication as completely unworthy of attention.
It continued, “The attempt to drag other political actors into this fabricated beer parlour tale does not elevate its credibility; it merely exposes the desperation behind it.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s political engagements are broad-based, principled, and national in scope — not the narrow, transactional theatrics invented in that publication.
“The story is not insider information. It is insider fiction — manufactured to mislead, distract, and provoke.
“It is unfortunate that certain individuals, long deprived of credibility and political gravitas, now attempt to manufacture relevance by inventing tales around serious national figures. Falsehood may trend for a moment, but it collapses under the weight of truth.
“Atiku Abubakar does not transact politics in secrecy, bribery, or transactional desperation as mischievously and irresponsibly portrayed.
“He remains focused on principled engagement and national redemption — not backroom theatrics designed by attention-seekers.”
Late on Thursday, in a reply to Atiku’s reaction on his X account, Fayose promised more details if the former vice president did not retract the statement.
He said, “I saw the response of one Paul Ibe, one of the media aides to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to my release on what transpired at his (Atiku’s) meeting in Minna, with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and I can’t but be amused.
“However, because of my respect for Atiku, I will want to assume that he did not authorise the press statement, and I expect that after seeing it, he will, within 48 hours, cause a rebuttal to be issued on it.
“Should Atiku not publicly disown the statement within the next 48 hours, I will have no option but to spill more beans (the facilitators and executioners) of the Minna meeting, particularly what was said about Wike) and by then, I will be doing so without any atom of respect for him. Till then, we keep our gunpowder dry.”
The development comes as the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State traded accusations on Thursday over Makinde’s alleged deal with Atiku.
While the Oyo APC alleged that the meeting formed part of a “political contract” that could expose the state’s finances ahead of the next general election, the PDP insisted there was no such deal.
The PUNCH