The former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has firmly refuted reports that he held a private meeting with Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and current senator, at his residence in Abuja, describing the accounts as “false information” circulating in some sections of the media.
The clarification was issued in a statement on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, by Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku, who said the interaction between the two political figures was nothing more than a brief, chance encounter at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as the ex-vice president prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj.
Initial reports by some media outlets claimed that Atiku had hosted Senator Yari at his Abuja residence in a “closed-door meeting”, fueling widespread speculation about potential cross-party consultations between Atiku, now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the influential All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Those accounts suggested that the meeting was significant enough to spur political conversations about shifting alliances and early strategic planning among key political actors. Such narratives were amplified by online platforms and alternative news sites reporting that the meeting took place behind closed doors, heightening interest and conjecture about its implications.
In his statement on X (formerly Twitter), Ibe said the engagement between Atiku and Yari was incidental.
“On Monday, 2nd February, former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar embarked on a private journey for the lesser hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he wrote. “Atiku was accompanied by associates and family members to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.”
Ibe explained that while Atiku was “waiting at the departure lounge,” he “had a chance encounter” with Senator Yari, during which they greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries, a normal and brief interaction that did not involve any formal or private discussions about political strategy or alliances.
The aide added that the former vice president “disclaims the false information being circulated in a section of the media that Atiku had a private meeting with Yari at his residence in Abuja,” stressing that no such event took place.
The clarification comes at a politically charged moment, as speculation about pre-election alliances and repositioning among Nigerian political leaders continues to build. With the 2027 elections approaching, any interaction between high-profile figures from different party backgrounds tends to attract intense media and public scrutiny, often leading to narratives that may not reflect actual events.
Political analysts say that such misreporting can quickly become fodder for speculation about potential cross-party collaboration, especially when names like Atiku and Yari, both with deep influence in their respective political spheres, are involved.
By issuing the clarification, Atiku’s camp has sought to stem the tide of conjecture and clearly outline that the only interaction between the former vice president and the APC lawmaker was a casual greeting at the airport, not a deliberate strategic talk at a private residence.
