Details have emerged about a reported high-level meeting between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, which took place on Tuesday in Minna, Niger State.
According to former Ekiti State governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose, the meeting was carefully planned, with the venue and personalities involved deliberately chosen to ensure discretion, confidence, and broader political acceptability.
Fayose claimed that discussions centred on the 2027 presidential election and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), amid calculations about regional balance and party strategy. He said it was considered unlikely that Labour Party’s Peter Obi would accept to be Atiku’s running mate, while also being viewed as unacceptable to the North as a potential successor.
The former Ekiti governor further alleged that Atiku is confident of securing the ADC presidential ticket, following moves to ensure that the party’s ticket is not zoned. Within this context, Makinde was said to have agreed in principle to join the ADC, on the condition that he would be nominated as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate.
Fayose stated that this proposal is expected to be presented to Atiku’s inner caucus for further discussion and possible ratification.
He also claimed that Makinde offered to contribute N10 billion, to be released in two tranches, as seed funding for what he described as the “proper take-off” of the ADC, with additional financial support promised once campaign activities begin.
According to Fayose, Makinde assured that he would deliver delegates from the South-West during the party’s primaries, while also leveraging family ties in Rivers State to secure support from South-South delegates. He reportedly argued that Makinde’s candidacy could help split South-West votes in the general election, giving the ADC a strategic advantage.
Fayose added that a follow-up meeting between the key actors has been scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, within the next two weeks.
Neither Atiku Abubakar nor Governor Seyi Makinde has publicly commented on the claims as of the time of filing this report.