Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday held a private meeting with his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
However, he dismissed speculations that the visit was linked to the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking to journalists after the two-hour closed-door meeting, Atiku, who was the People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, insisted that his visit had nothing to do with politics or future elections.
“I was not in Abeokuta to see Obasanjo because of 2027,” he stated, describing the meeting as purely a courtesy visit.
Despite persistent questions, Atiku declined to discuss Nigerian politics, leaving room for speculation about the nature of his engagement with the former president.
“It is a courtesy visit. I’m not going to talk about 2027 or politics. I’m not here because of 2027,” the former Vice President declared.
Atiku who arrived at the sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Abeokuta around 12.36pm quickly went to the Penthouse arm of the facility to meet his host, Obasanjo who was waiting for him for a closed door meeting.
He was joined in the closed – door meeting with members of his entourage, including a member of the Senate representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, Obasanjo’s personal friend, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe among others.
Atiku also visited Obasanjo in the build up to the 2023 Presidential election.
Legal adviser backs Ude-Okoye as PDP national secretary
In a related development, the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, has asked the National Working Committee, of which he is a part, to immediately swear in a former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as the National Secretary.
Ajibade, in an internal memo received by the office of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on Monday, affirmed his full adoption of the Board of Trustees panel’s report.
In the memo, Ajibade emphasised that since both Ude-Okoye and Senator Samuel Anyanwu had submitted themselves to the BoT panel chaired by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, they should demonstrate the honour of accepting the panel’s findings.
The PDP has struggled with internal issues since before and after the 2023 elections, leading to instability and divisions.
Damagum has faced mounting criticism, especially after succeeding Iyorchia Ayu. Tensions over the National Secretary position intensified when the South East nominated Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who had been selected for the Imo governorship.
On December 20, 2024, the Appeal Court ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye, but conflict persisted.
On January 28, Anyanwu’s supporters forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from a BoT meeting, prompting intervention.
The PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed on January 31 in Asaba, Delta State capital, endorsed the court’s decision, recognising Ude-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary.
However, Anyanwu rejected this, petitioning the IGP, Supreme Court, and Appeal Court, while accusing the governors of worsening the crisis.
On Wednesday, the BoT, led by former President of the Senate, Adulphus Wabara, adopted Ude-Okoye as the legitimate National Secretary after reviewing the case.
After receiving the BoT’s memo instructing the NWC to swear in Ude-Okoye as National Secretary, Damagum issued a memo on February 6 to the PDP National Legal Adviser, seeking advice on whether to follow the directive from the Governors and the BoT.
Damagum’s memo, titled “Legal Opinion with Regards to the Position of the National Secretary,” reads in part “Following series of litigation from different courts, kindly study all the submissions from the committees set up by the Governor’s Forum as well as that of the Board of Trustees with the view of coming up with your legal opinion to enable us to take an informed position.
“Please find enclosed a copy of the BOT legal opinion as forwarded by the Chairman.”
In response to Damagum’s memo, Ajibade issued a memo on February 7, received by the Acting National Chairman’s office on Monday, in which he also confirmed Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary.
The PDP National Legal Adviser memo read in part, “The contending parties have voluntarily submitted to the authority of the Dr. Kabiru T. Turaki, SAN led committee and a legal opinion/advice having been proffered after evaluation of documents tendered by parties, calling for review of the said legal opinion/advice in my opinion is not only improper but will undermine the effort of the BOT and increase the already existing tension as well as worsen the volatility within the party which may be difficult to arrest.
“It is, therefore, my advice that the contending parties have willingly submitted themselves to the authority of the committee led by Dr. Kabiru T. Turaki, SAN should be honourable enough to abide by the outcome of the legal opinion/advice stemming from the proceeding they unreservedly consented to, most especially that the said legal opinion/advice was signed by a well experienced Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and same adopted by the BOT which is the conscience of the party. See Article 32(5) (a) to (i) of the Constitution (amended in 2017) of our great party.
“Finally, I have nothing to add to the said legal opinion, it is hereby adopted as mine.”
