Aisha Buhari visits Atiku as 2027 politics heats up

Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has visited former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, in Abuja as political activity builds ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Atiku disclosed the meeting on his social media platforms on Wednesday, describing Aisha’s visit as “warm and deeply appreciated”.

The former first lady, who was accompanied by one of her daughters and some associates, did not publicly disclose the purpose of the visit.

Atiku also gave no details of their discussions, leaving the political significance of the meeting open to interpretation.

In his account of the encounter, however, the former vice-president shifted attention to the economic pressures facing Nigerians, highlighting the rising costs of food, transportation, education, healthcare and other essential services.

He said the meeting reinforced the responsibility of political leaders to put the welfare and dignity of citizens at the centre of governance.

“Today, I was delighted to receive former First Lady, Aisha Buhari. Her visit was warm and deeply appreciated,” Atiku said.

He argued that Nigerians needed an economy that could reward hard work, expand opportunities and reduce the pressure on households.

“Nigerians deserve an economy that rewards hard work, restores opportunity and allows every family to live with dignity and hope,” he said.

Atiku said his objective was to reduce the economic burden on families, restore hope and “Make Nigeria Affordable Again”.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 elections, with political alignments and consultations gathering momentum across the country.

Aisha is the widow of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in July 2025.