Atiku, Makinde hold closed-door meeting with IBB in Minna

– Nigerians need real-time electronic transmission of election results – Atiku

– Makinde declines press interview

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From John Adams, Minna

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Tuesday held a private meeting with former military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida at his Uphill Residence in Minna, Niger State.

Atiku arrived in Minna at about 1.30 p.m. and moved straight to Babangida’s residence.

However, the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, joined the former vice president at IBB’s Uphill Residence at about 2.10 p.m.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Atiku said he was in the state to strengthen the structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Niger.

He, however, said that his visit to IBB had nothing to do with 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 busy mobilising people and registering people at the same time.

“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 on the ongoing controversy over the transmission of election results by INEC, Atiku said that electronic transmission of election results would cause less confusion and chaos, stressing that the electronic transmission of results is the preference of Nigerians.

“This is below the expectations of Nigerians. During the last elections, Nigerians were expecting real-time electronic transmission of election results at various levels of the election, but what we got is a mixture of electronic and manual uploading, which caused more confusion and chaos. It will be best if we have a single-tier electronic transmission, which is real-time electronic transmission, which is the preference of all Nigerians.”

He called on all opposition political parties to come together and reject the decision of the Senate to opt for only manual uploading of election results.

According to him: “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.”

Also speaking, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde did not speak to journalists; he did not come out from the inner chamber of IBB’s house after Atiku left.

His aides told journalists that his visit was a private one and that he was not going to speak to the press.

He nevertheless left about 30 minutes after Atiku departed.