Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and the Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, have publicly disagreed over the purpose and substance of a meeting involving Seyi Makinde that took place at the residence of former Head of State Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in Minna, Niger State, this week.
Makinde and Atiku Abubakar were reported to have met in Minna earlier in the week, prompting commentary from political figures on the nature of the discussions.
Fayose issued a statement claiming details about what occurred during the meeting, while Shaibu countered those claims on behalf of Atiku.
The meeting reportedly took place at IBB’s residence and attracted public attention amid political discussions as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections. Neither Makinde nor Atiku has publicly provided a detailed account of the meeting’s agenda.
In a statement shared via his social media account, Fayose described the meeting in Minna and offered an account of issues he said were discussed there.
He referenced perception of political plans, names of individuals mentioned, and positions he said were part of the conversation. Fayose also mentioned that a follow‑up meeting was expected in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
In response, Shaibu issued a statement on behalf of Atiku Abubakar rejecting Fayose’s account of the Minna meeting.
Shaibu said that the descriptions offered by Fayose were incorrect and clarified that no discussions on vice‑presidential ticket negotiations occurred, nor were there deliberations on financial contributions or zoning arrangements as portrayed in the earlier statement.
Shaibu said that Atiku Abubakar did not engage in any negotiations of the types described by Fayose during the meeting. Shaibu’s remarks were issued in a written statement in Abuja.
In his statement, Fayose said: “It is no longer news that the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, went to Minna, Niger State, yesterday to hold a meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.”
Shaibu said: “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 ₦10 billion contributions. There were no zoning manipulations. There were no delegate‑delivery guarantees.”
The public disagreement between a former state governor and a senior aide to a former vice president highlights competing narratives about political engagements involving senior figures as the national political landscape evolves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Such competing claims can influence public perceptions of political coordination and discussions among national leaders.
