The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the current vice president of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, met and exchanged pleasantries at a wedding ceremony in Abuja on Saturday.
The meeting was one of the rare occasions that the two political rivals have seen each other since the 2023 general elections, which were marred by controversy and legal disputes.
The wedding ceremony was between Mohammed (Ameer) Bunu and Ikramullah Jamal Arabi, two prominent members of the Nigerian elite.
The event was attended by several political associates and notable dignitaries from different parties and regions of the country.
Among them were Maj General Babagana Monguno (rtd), former National Security Adviser; Prof Ali Isa Pantami, immediate Past Minister of Communication and Digital Economy; and other influential personalities.
Atiku and Shettima, who were seated on opposite sides of the hall, greeted each other warmly and engaged in a brief conversation. They also posed for pictures with the bride and groom and other guests.
The gesture was seen by many as a sign of maturity and reconciliation between the two leaders, who have been at loggerheads over the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku, a former vice president and a wealthy businessman, contested for the presidency for the seventh time in 2023 under the platform of the PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party. He ran with Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, as his running mate.
He lost to Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and a political godfather in the south-west region, who ran with Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno State and a senator for Borno Central, as his running mate under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, Atiku rejected the results of the election, which gave Tinubu (36.61%) of the votes and him 29.07%, alleging that there were widespread irregularities, rigging, and violence. He filed a petition at the Presidential Election Tribunal, challenging Tinubu’s victory and seeking a rerun or a declaration of himself as the winner. He also appealed to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, but his petition was dismissed by all the courts for lack of merit.
Shettima, who became Nigeria’s vice president in May 2023 after Tinubu’s inauguration, has been loyal to his principal and has defended his administration’s policies and achievements. He has also been critical of Atiku and his party, accusing them of being sore losers and trying to undermine Nigeria’s democracy and stability. He has urged Atiku to accept his defeat gracefully and join hands with Tinubu to move Nigeria forward.
The meeting between Atiku and Shettima at the wedding ceremony in Abuja was therefore seen as a rare moment of cordiality and civility between two political adversaries who have been locked in a bitter feud for over a year. It was also seen as a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy and unity, as it showed that despite their differences, they could still respect each other as fellow Nigerians.
