Atiku, Makinde, others visit Babangida in Minna
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on yesterday met with former military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, at his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on yesterday met with former military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, at his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State.
Atiku arrived in Minna at about 1.30 pm and moved straight from the Minna Airport to Babangida’s house, while the Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde, arrived at about 2.10 pm.
He was accompanied by ADC leaders and stakeholders, including the ADC governorship aspirant for Rivers State, Baba Agaie; former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Senator Ben Obi; Niger State ADC Chairman Musa Hassan and other party chieftains.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Atiku said he was in the state to strengthen the state structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), adding that the visit is not about him contesting the 2027 presidential election.
“I am a member of ADC, and we are busy trying to ensure that our structures are firmly rooted from the ward to the local to the state up to the national level. We are simultaneously mobilizing and registering people.
“This is not the first time I am coming to see Babangida. I am here to pay my respect. The issue of contesting in the 2027 election did not arise,” he stated.
Speaking about INEC’s transmission of election results, Atiku said that electronic transmission would cause less confusion and chaos, stressing that it is what Nigerians prefer.
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“This is below the expectations of Nigerians. During the last elections, Nigerians expected real-time electronic transmission of election results at all levels, but we got a mix of electronic and manual uploads, which caused more confusion and chaos. It will be best if we have a single-tier electrical transmission, which is a real-time electronic transmission, which is the preference of all Nigerians.”
He called on all opposition political parties to come together and reject the Senate’s decision to opt for manual uploading of election results only. “We need all opposition political parties to pursue this issue. We should not allow it to rest the way they wanted it to rest today in the Senate.”
On his part, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, did not speak to journalists. He did not come out of the inner chamber of IBB’s house after Atiku left, and all journalists were told that he was on a private visit and would not speak to anyone. Reporters were then asked to leave the premises, but several waited outside to learn when he would leave.
He left about 30 minutes after Atiku left.
