Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has maintained that the recent meeting involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) was centred on discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Fayose said he found the rebuttal from Atiku’s camp, signed by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, rather amusing.
Fayose further warned that if Atiku fails to repudiate the statement credited to his aide within 48 hours, he would disclose additional details about the Minna meeting in Niger State, particularly aspects relating to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In the words of Fayose, “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) 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 will 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 facilitors 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.”
MaaziTV reports that Fayose had earlier reacted to the meeting between Atiku, Makinde and IBB, alleging that the discussions were aimed at positioning Governor Makinde as Atiku’s running mate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 elections.
In response, Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, dismissed Fayose’s claims as a shameless concoction, a distortion, and cheap propaganda.
The former Vice President categorically denied engaging in any alleged horse trading, negotiations over vice-presidential slots, or discussions involving ₦10 billion contributions.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisted that he does not practise politics rooted in secrecy, bribery, or transactional desperation, as he said was falsely and irresponsibly suggested. He urged the public to disregard the claims in their entirety.