Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has again denied ever describing the President as an illegitimate leader, dismissing claims that he previously made such remarks while in the opposition.
Bwala made the clarification during an interview on the KAA TRUTHS podcast, where he maintained that he had never referred to Tinubu as an illegitimate President.
The presidential aide instead attributed the description to activist and member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Aisha Yesufu, accusing her of continuing to question Tinubu’s legitimacy despite the Supreme Court’s verdict affirming the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
Bwala argued that once the Supreme Court had settled the dispute over the election, its decision became final and should be respected by all parties.
“Nobody in Nigeria, even the opposition, including Kenneth Okonkwo, called the President illegitimate. It is only Aisha, and that’s because she is ignorant and doesn’t know what the law is,” Bwala said.
He explained that even where an election is disputed or considered flawed by some parties, a judgment by the highest court on the matter settles the legal question.
“Even if a person won an election that is flawed, and that election is litigated to the highest court of the land whose decision is final in all authorities and they said that the election was valid, from that moment you should back away,” he added.
Bwala was subsequently asked whether he had ever made similar comments about Tinubu before joining the administration, but he maintained that he had not.
“I never called the President illegitimate,” he said.
READ ALSO: Bwala on Tinubu: ‘I Criticised Him Because I Was in Opposition’
Challenging those who have attributed such a statement to him, Bwala added, “If you have it, pull it out.”
His latest comments come amid continued political debate over statements made by political actors before and after the 2023 presidential election, particularly as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bwala, who was previously associated with the opposition camp before becoming an ally of the Tinubu administration, has repeatedly faced questions over his past criticisms of the President and his subsequent political realignment.
His comments also highlight the continuing controversy surrounding the 2023 presidential election, which was challenged in court by opposition candidates.
The Supreme Court ultimately upheld Tinubu’s election victory, bringing the legal challenge to an end.
As the country moves towards the 2027 elections, political figures on both sides of the divide are expected to continue revisiting past statements and political positions as parties seek to consolidate support and challenge their opponents.