FACT-CHECK: Viral Video Falsely Claims Obasanjo, Atiku Held Closed-Door Meeting Over 2027 Ambition
By: Peter Emmanuel |
CLAIM
A viral Facebook video claims that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), held a closed-door meeting where Atiku asked Obasanjo for forgiveness and sought his support for the 2027 presidential election.
The video was posted on Facebook by Naija Solihmars TV and had recorded more than 2.2 million views, 54,000 likes and 552 comments as of the time of this report.
FULL TEXT
The caption accompanying the video reads: “Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar are in Clossed door.”
In the video, a voice identified as Atiku says: “Baba please forgive me.”
Another voice identified as Obasanjo responds: “Why should I forgive you?”
Atiku then says: “2027 I need your support, I will make you proud. Please forgive me.”
Obasanjo replies: “I’ll think over it.”
VERIFICATION
DNN FactCheck reviewed the viral video and found several features that raise questions about its authenticity.
The voices in the clip have an unnatural delivery, while some of the movements appear jerky and poorly synchronised with the audio. The video also provides no clear date, location or independent source to establish when or where the alleged conversation took place.
DNN FactCheck also found no credible news report or official statement from either Obasanjo or Atiku confirming that such a private meeting occurred or that the conversation in the video took place.
The absence of an identifiable original source, combined with the suspicious audio and visual inconsistencies, makes the video unreliable as evidence of the alleged conversation.
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
Obasanjo and Atiku have a long and complicated political relationship. They served together from 1999 to 2007, but their relationship deteriorated over political disagreements, particularly the controversy surrounding Obasanjo’s attempt to extend his tenure beyond two terms.
According to a report by Punch published on July 31, 2026, Obasanjo revisited his relationship with Atiku, describing his decision to pick him as his running mate in 1999 as the biggest mistake he made in office.
In a report published on August 1, 2026, Punch reported that Atiku responded to Obasanjo’s remarks, saying he had no apology for opposing the former president’s alleged third-term bid.
In another report published on August 5, 2026, Punch described the renewed exchange as another chapter in the long-running political disagreement between the two former political allies.
The tension between the two politicians is not new. According to a Premium Times report published on August 4, 2018, Obasanjo had publicly opposed Atiku’s presidential ambition and said he could not support him.
However, their relationship has also gone through periods of reconciliation. In a report published on October 11, 2018, The Guardian reported that Obasanjo said he had forgiven Atiku and endorsed his presidential bid after Atiku visited him and sought forgiveness.
These documented events show that Obasanjo and Atiku have had both serious political disagreements and periods of reconciliation. They do not, however, provide evidence that the specific conversation contained in the viral video occurred.
VERDICT
FALSE / FABRICATED / MANIPULATED MEDIA
WHAT WE FOUND
DNN FactCheck found no credible evidence confirming that Atiku and Obasanjo held the alleged closed-door meeting or had the conversation contained in the viral video.
The video’s audio and visual elements also contain suspicious features, including unnatural voice delivery and questionable synchronisation.
While the political history between Obasanjo and Atiku is genuine, and both men have recently exchanged strong words over their past disagreements, that history does not authenticate the viral clip.
CONCLUSION
The viral video claiming that Atiku visited Obasanjo, apologised and sought his support for the 2027 presidential election is false and appears to be fabricated or manipulated.
The documented political history between the two men may make the claim appear believable, but DNN FactCheck found no credible evidence that the alleged conversation took place. The suspicious audio and visual elements, coupled with the absence of an original source or independent confirmation, further undermine the video’s authenticity.
Final Verdict: FALSE / FABRICATED / MANIPULATED VIDEO
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