A high-level political meeting between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde held in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday, has sparked fresh conversations about emerging alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Sources familiar with the closed-door meeting revealed that the venue and key personalities involved were carefully selected to ensure discretion, confidence, and political acceptability across different blocs.
Insiders said discussions centered on the growing strength of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a potential coalition platform. Atiku, it was gathered, is reportedly confident of securing the party’s presidential ticket following moves that ensured the non-zoning of the ADC’s presidential slot.
Deliberations reportedly considered the broader opposition dynamics, including the position of Labour Party’s Peter Obi. According to sources, concerns were raised that Obi may neither accept a vice-presidential slot nor be widely acceptable in the North as a successor to Atiku, should such a political arrangement arise.
As part of the negotiations, Makinde is said to have expressed willingness to join the ADC on the condition that he emerges as Atiku’s running mate. The proposal, sources noted, is expected to be presented to Atiku’s inner caucus for further consultation and possible ratification.
In what observers describe as a significant commitment, Makinde reportedly pledged an initial contribution of ₦10 billion — to be released in two tranches — to support what he termed the “proper take-off” of the ADC, with additional funding promised once the campaign formally begins.
The Oyo governor also allegedly assured that he could deliver delegates from the Southwest during the ADC primaries and leverage political networks in the South-South to boost support. He reportedly argued that positioning him on the ticket could help split Southwest votes in the general election, giving the ADC a strategic edge.
Sources further disclosed that a follow-up meeting has been scheduled to hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, within the next two weeks to fine-tune the discussions.
