Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday slammed former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s accusations about an alleged political agreement involving Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as “desperate” and “baseless.”
Fayose, on the other hand, threatened to reveal information of his meeting with former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in Minna.
The statement came in response to rumors of a closed-door meeting between Atiku and Makinde at Babangida’s Minna mansion, which fueled suspicion about a potential political agreement in 2027.
In a Wednesday statement, Fayose claimed that Makinde had offered to join Atiku as his 2027 running mate in the African Democratic Congress, promising N10 billion to help the party get started and deliver delegates to secure Atiku’s ADC presidential ticket.
Fayose concluded that the duo had set another meeting for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to conclude negotiations.
Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, confirmed this.
“Our attention has been drawn to a reckless and malicious fabrication titled ‘Between Atiku and Makinde: The 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 ADC chieftain 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 parlor 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 response to Atiku’s remark on his X account, Fayose offered additional information if the former vice president did not recant his 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 authorize 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 revelation comes as the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party of Oyo State hurled allegations on Thursday about Makinde’s supposed arrangement with Atiku.
While the Oyo APC claimed the meeting was part of a “political contract” to expose the state’s finances ahead of the 2019 general election, the PDP stated there was no such agreement.
The APC’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, issued a statement in Ibadan, claiming that a political contract between Makinde and Atiku would lead to the state’s financial resources being drained in preparation for the 2027 election cycle.
The APC expressed concern that both Atiku’s and Makinde’s selfishness and desperation could cloud their conscience.
The statement said, “Atiku Abubakar, on his part, is desperate to be on the ballot again in 2027 to enable him to set the record of a man who contested presidential elections for the highest record of time in the whole world and possibly keep himself busy at an advanced age.
“Besides, the former vice president has a penchant for making some Southern governors sponsor his ill-conceived presidential ambition with their state funds, just like he did in 2023.
“Another reality is that Atiku has found good ground to punish Makinde for his sins of 2019 and 2023, but unfortunately, the naivety in the Oyo governor would not allow him to read between the lines.
“The details of the betrayal game that Makinde played with his new godfather in the last two general elections are known to most pundits, and the fact that the victim (Atiku) would never let go is crystal clear.
“So, the latest political romance involving the duo would end up a disaster, with Makinde being at the risk of being the worst loser or victim.”
The party stated that with the available records of billions of naira, which Makinde has taken from the treasury of the government and wasted on financing the hitherto comatose PDP, the Pacesetter State could not afford to open its vault to somebody like Atiku again.
“We say no to the payment of an N10bn down payment by Makinde to make him Atiku’s running mate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, even as it is evident that he wants to remain in power after the expiration of his two-term tenure as a governor.
“He shall be vehemently resisted this time,” the APC publicity secretary insisted.
Michael Ogunsina, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, condemned the APC claim as irresponsible and false.
He explained that the PDP remained committed to the government and the sustained development of its beloved state.
Ogunsina stated that no amount of propaganda, panic, or politically motivated fabrication could deter the party from providing for the people.
“Oyo PDP strongly condemns the reckless and unfounded allegations by the state chapter of APC regarding a phantom plot to ‘hand over the state’s vault ahead of the 2027 elections.’
“It is hardly surprising that the Oyo APC continues to parade misinformation, especially when one of their loudest ‘information merchants’ is a former two-term Ekiti State governor who has reduced himself to a self-appointed political gossip distributor.
“When such a figure becomes the backbone of your intelligence gathering, confusion and cluelessness are inevitable.
“A party that relies on recycled bitterness and social media speculation as a strategy cannot suddenly claim moral authority over the state’s finances.”
The party added, “Let it be stated clearly: Oyo is not anyone’s personal vault. Under Governor Makinde, the state’s resources are managed with transparency and accountability.
“Workers and pensioners are paid regularly; roads, schools, and health facilities are being upgraded across the state, including the recruitment of unemployed youths. These are tangible results that the people can see and verify.
“It is ironic that the same APC, under whose federal government Nigerians are battling crushing economic hardship, rising inflation and poverty, unstable electricity, and declining purchasing power, now pretends to be alarmed about Oyo’s finances.
“Charity,” they say, “begins at home. They should first fix the hardship their party has imposed on Nigerians before manufacturing imaginary scandals in Oyo.”
The party noted that it remained focused on governance and the continued development of the state, adding that no amount of propaganda, panic, or politically motivated fiction could distract it from delivering for the people.
“Oyo belongs to the people, not a rejected APC clinging to propaganda and recycled lies,” the PDP publicity secretary said.
