Atiku Clarifies Buhari Visit Was For Sallah Greetings, Not Political Alliance Talks

Atiku Clarifies Buhari Visit Was For Sallah Greetings, Not Political Alliance Talks

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dispelled speculation surrounding his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, clarifying that the meeting was purely a Sallah courtesy visit and not related to ongoing discussions about a proposed political coalition.

Atiku led a delegation of high-profile political figures to Buhari’s residence in Kaduna on Friday, a visit which attracted public attention due to its timing and the political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections…READ MORE…

Among those in the delegation were former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), alongside several other prominent politicians. While the visit has been widely interpreted as politically strategic, Atiku emphasized that its sole purpose was to extend Sallah greetings.

Speaking with journalists, Atiku noted that he had been unable to visit during the Eid celebrations due to official duties in Adamawa State, where he represented the Lamido Fombina, HRH Dr. Muhammadu Musdafa.

“We were here to pay a post-Sallah courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari,” Atiku stated.

When asked about the rumored plans to form a broad-based opposition coalition, Atiku confirmed that discussions on the matter are indeed ongoing. However, he was quick to stress that the visit to Buhari had no connection to those talks.

“There are conversations underway regarding the formation of a stronger opposition through the collaboration of major political parties, but that was not the agenda for today’s visit,” he clarified.

Earlier, Atiku had shared highlights of the visit via his verified social media platforms, expressing his pleasure at reconnecting with the former president. He wrote:
“As the Waziri of Adamawa, I had obligations to represent the Lamido Fombina during the Sallah festivities. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2015–2023). It was a delightful time as always; he had me laughing heartily with his characteristic sense of humor.”

Other notable figures who accompanied Atiku included former Governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo), among others.

The visit comes just days after a similar courtesy visit by a delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, led by Senator Hope Uzodimma, sparking widespread commentary and speculation on social media regarding possible political realignments.