Photo: Fayose and Atiku
By: Daniel Kanu
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed as “beer parlour gossip” claims by former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has agreed to serve as his running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday and signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the allegation as “a shameless concoction — a tissue of lies stitched together by a serial purveyor of political gossip whose relevance survives only on controversy, distortion and cheap propaganda.”
Fayose had reportedly claimed during a media appearance that Makinde had already agreed to deputise Atiku ahead of the next general election, sparking debate within political circles and among supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, Atiku’s camp insisted there have been no discussions or decisions regarding a running mate for 2027, stressing that such matters are premature and speculative.
“The former Vice President is focused on issues that affect the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, not on idle rumours and beer parlour speculation,” the statement said. “The 2027 election is still some distance away, and any conversation about running mates at this stage is not only baseless but deliberately misleading.”
Shaibu further accused Fayose of attempting to create division within the PDP and distract from what he described as the pressing national challenges facing the country, including economic hardship, rising insecurity and governance concerns.
Political observers note that permutations ahead of the 2027 presidential race have begun to surface across party lines, despite the fact that the 2023 election cycle only recently concluded.
Within the PDP, internal alignments and strategic positioning have intensified, particularly among influential governors and former office holders.
Governor Makinde, a key figure within the PDP and a member of the influential G5 governors during the 2023 election, has yet to publicly comment on the alleged agreement.
Analysts say his political weight in the South-West makes him a recurring subject in discussions about future presidential tickets.
Atiku, who was the PDP presidential candidate in 2023, has remained an active voice in national discourse, frequently commenting on governance and economic policy.
While he has not formally declared his intention to contest in 2027, his recent engagements and political statements have kept him in the spotlight.
The latest exchange underscores ongoing tensions among senior PDP figures, as the party continues efforts to rebuild cohesion and reposition itself ahead of future electoral contests.
As speculation continues, Atiku’s camp has urged the public and party faithful to disregard what it termed “fabricated narratives” and focus instead on substantive national issues.
