Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has addressed public speculation regarding his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, dismissing claims that the meeting was politically motivated or related to coalition talks.
The visit, which took place at Buhari’s residence in Kaduna on Friday, sparked widespread debate, especially following a similar visit by All Progressives Congress (APC) governors led by Senator Hope Uzodimma earlier in the week. However, Atiku was quick to clarify that his visit had a purely social and festive purpose.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Atiku explained, “We came here on a courtesy and Sallah greetings visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.”
He further elaborated on social media, writing on his X handle: “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015–2023. It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour.”
Atiku was accompanied by a group of notable politicians, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, Senator Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, ex-Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Adamawa Governor Jubrilla Bindow, and former Minister of Communications Isa Pantami.
Interestingly, while El-Rufa’i is currently aligned with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the rest of the delegation—like Atiku—are affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The delegation also participated in the Friday Jummat prayers in Kaduna, adding a religious aspect to the otherwise informal gathering.
While Atiku acknowledged ongoing conversations regarding the formation of a united opposition bloc, he emphasized that the Kaduna visit had no bearing on those discussions. “There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of this visit,” he said.
The clarification comes amid rising political chatter, especially on social media, where users have speculated about potential alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku’s visit to Buhari, described as a “wonderful time,” appears to have been more about festive camaraderie than political strategy—at least for now.
