Atiku hosts UK envoy, discusses Nigeria’s political affairs

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday met with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, and other senior British diplomatic officials to discuss developments in the country.

Atiku’s aide, Kenneth Okonkwo, disclosed the meeting in a post on his X account.

According to Okonkwo, the meeting was attended by Montgomery, the Head of Political Section, Lucy Green, and the Second Secretary Political, Thomas Simpson.

He said the discussions centred on “current affairs in Nigeria” but did not provide details of the specific issues considered or disclose the venue of the meeting.

Photographs and video footage from the engagement showed Atiku, dressed in traditional attire, exchanging greetings and handshakes with the British diplomats during the meeting.

The engagement comes as the United Kingdom intensifies diplomatic interactions with Nigerian political leaders and electoral stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In April 2026, the British High Commission said Montgomery and Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever had held meetings with political leaders and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The diplomats visited Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, former presidential candidates Atiku and Peter Obi, and INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.

The British High Commission said the engagements were focused on developments in Nigeria’s political and democratic processes and expressed its readiness to work with political parties to support “inclusive and credible elections.”