Tinubu, Atiku reunite 20-month after election rift

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his political rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, came face-to-face on Friday for the first time in nearly 20 months since the contentious 2023 presidential election.

The unexpected reunion occurred at the National Mosque in Abuja during the Juma’at prayer and the wedding ceremony of the daughter of former Gombe State governor and Senator, Danjuma Goje.

The meeting marked a significant moment, as it was the first public appearance together of the two political heavyweights since the heated election in which Tinubu emerged victorious, a result that Atiku, alongside Peter Obi, challenged vigorously in court.

Tinubu and Atiku, once political allies, were seen in close proximity, a notable contrast to the prolonged legal and political battles following the 2023 polls. The duo had previously collaborated in Nigeria’s political landscape but became opponents during the last presidential election.

Their appearance together at the National Mosque highlights a rare moment of unity amidst the lingering political tensions, as both leaders attended the wedding fatiha of Senator Goje’s daughter. Observers note that while the encounter may have been coincidental, it holds symbolic significance given the history and the recent legal disputes between them.