Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has shed light on discussions held during a closed-door meeting involving former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in Minna, Niger State.
According to Fayose, Governor Makinde agreed in principle to team up with Atiku as his vice-presidential running mate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He further claimed that Peter Obi was largely excluded from the consideration, based on the belief that he would neither accept the role of deputy to Atiku nor command sufficient acceptance in the North as a potential successor.
In a statement personally signed by him, Fayose said Makinde’s visit to Minna for the meeting with Atiku was deliberate, noting that both the venue and participants were carefully selected to inspire confidence and broad acceptability.
Fayose stated that those involved took into account the assumption that Peter Obi would decline to run as Atiku’s deputy and would also struggle to gain northern support as a successor.
He also alleged that Atiku was about 70 per cent certain of clinching the ADC presidential ticket, having secured the non-zoning of the party’s presidential slot.
According to Fayose, Makinde agreed to defect to the ADC on the condition that he would emerge as the party’s vice-presidential candidate, a proposal expected to be presented to Atiku’s inner circle for further deliberation and approval.
The former Ekiti governor further claimed that Makinde pledged an initial N10 billion contribution— to be released in two phases—towards what he described as the “proper take-off” of the ADC, with assurances of additional funding once the campaign formally begins.
Fayose added that Makinde promised to deliver delegates from the South-West during the ADC primary election and leverage his wife’s Rivers State origin to secure support from delegates in the South-South.
He stressed that Makinde argued his candidacy could split South-West votes in the general election, giving the ADC a strategic edge, and revealed that a follow-up meeting had reportedly been scheduled to hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, within the next two weeks.
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