Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has visited former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Abuja, in a meeting that has drawn attention amid growing political consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku disclosed the meeting on Wednesday through a post on his official X account, describing the encounter with the former First Lady as “warm and deeply appreciated.”
Photographs released alongside the post showed Aisha Buhari meeting with Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
However, neither Aisha nor Atiku publicly disclosed the specific purpose of the Abuja meeting or details of their discussions. This leaves the political significance of the visit open to interpretation, particularly as opposition parties and political figures intensify consultations ahead of the next general election.
Rather than announcing any political agreement, Atiku used his account of the meeting to focus on the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
He said the encounter was a reminder of the responsibility of people seeking to contribute to Nigeria’s future to place the welfare, dignity and interests of citizens at the centre of their actions.
“Atiku said families across the country were being stretched by the rising cost of food, transportation, education, healthcare and other basic necessities.”
The former vice-president argued that Nigerians deserved an economy capable of rewarding hard work, creating opportunities and enabling families to live with dignity and hope.
“That is the Nigeria we must build together, a country that works for its people again,” he said, calling for measures to ease the economic pressure on households and restore public confidence.
Vanguard reported that Aisha was accompanied by one of her daughters and associates during the visit. The newspaper also noted that she and Atiku had previously met in Saudi Arabia in February 2026, when Atiku hosted her, her daughter Hanan and other members of the Buhari family during the Umrah pilgrimage.
That earlier meeting was publicly presented as a cordial family encounter connected to the pilgrimage. The latest Abuja meeting, however, is taking place at a markedly different political moment, with parties and political groups already positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
Recent opposition consultations have included efforts to build greater cooperation among several political parties and develop a framework for presenting a coordinated challenge in 2027. The emerging discussions include questions around opposition unity, a possible common presidential candidate and a broader reform agenda.
