In a notable political event, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar paid a visit to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, on Saturday.
While the specifics of their meeting were not disclosed, images and videos of the two leaders walking and conversing together have been widely shared on social media, with many linking the visit to the 2027 presidential election.
This visit follows closely on the heels of Atiku’s recent meetings with former Military President Ibrahim Babangida and ex-Military Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna, the capital of Niger State.
Atiku has been a prominent rival of Buhari over the past decade. In 2014, he vied for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket but finished in third place. Five years later, he ran against Buhari under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner, claiming he won the election and challenging the results in court, though unsuccessfully.
Last year, Atiku contested the presidency once more, this time losing to President Bola Tinubu and again pursuing a legal challenge that did not succeed.
In a recent interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America, Atiku reaffirmed his determination to continue his presidential pursuits. “I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” he said, drawing a parallel to former US President Abraham Lincoln, who ran for office seven times before winning.
At 77 years old, Atiku will be 81 when Nigeria holds its next general election in 2027. He has emphasized the need for unity within the PDP to secure future electoral victories and mentioned discussions with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, regarding a potential alliance.
Addressing any speculation about discord between him and Obi, Atiku assured, “This is to anybody that thinks there is going to be a misunderstanding between me and Obi, let me assure you that not even a small issue is going to happen between us.”
More details to follow….