, Atiku Abubakar, has explained the reason behind his recent visit.){kind=link}
Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has explained the reason behind his recent visit to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna State.
Atiku, who was accompanied by former governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, along with other political figures, stated that the visit was to pay a post-Sallah homage to Buhari, which he described as “a wonderful experience.”
Sharing details on his official X handle, Atiku noted that Buhari was in high spirits and entertained them with his characteristic rib-cracking humor.
“As the Waziri of Adamawa, I was obligated to remain in Adamawa during the Sallah festivities, representing the Lamido of Fombina in several activities,” Atiku wrote. “Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. It was a delightful time with him. As usual, his unique sense of humor had me laughing so hard my ribs hurt.”
Beyond the homage visit, Atiku, El-Rufai, and Tambuwal were also in Kaduna to engage with opposition leaders. The visit coincides with recent political movements involving Atiku, El-Rufai, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who have reportedly joined forces to form a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
The coalition was formally announced during a press briefing by a group known as the Concerned Leaders and Political Stakeholders in Nigeria, where Atiku highlighted their shared mission for 2027.
Meanwhile, Adewale Adebayo, former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), revealed that discussions are ongoing for Atiku and Obi to join the SDP. He expressed confidence that if they—and other key figures—embrace the party’s principles, they could successfully challenge and retire Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a related development, Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), claimed that El-Rufai might be serving as Atiku’s placeholder within the SDP, in case the PDP refuses to grant him the presidential ticket.