RismadarVoice Reporters
February 12, 2026
The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed as false and malicious allegations by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of a secret political arrangement involving Atiku and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Fayose had, in a statement titled “Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday,” posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, alleged that Makinde had agreed to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the condition that he would emerge as Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.
He further claimed that Makinde met with Atiku in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday in what he described as a carefully arranged meeting with selected personalities to ensure “confidence and acceptability.”
However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the claims as a “reckless and malicious fabrication.”
Shaibu said the report was a “shameless concoction” and firmly denied that Atiku engaged in any form of political bargaining as alleged.
“At no time did former Vice President Atiku Abubakar engage in the imaginary horse-trading described in that laughable script,” Shaibu said.
He specifically refuted claims of negotiations over a vice-presidential ticket, alleged ₦10 billion contributions, zoning arrangements, delegate guarantees, or any clandestine 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,” he stated.
Shaibu accused Fayose of attempting to drag other political actors into what he described as a fabricated narrative aimed at stirring controversy.
“The story is not insider information. It is insider fiction, manufactured to mislead, distract, and provoke,” he said, adding that Atiku’s political engagements remain broad-based and principled.
