Gladness Gideon
The political ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may have hit a fresh snag, following a wave of high-profile defections and harsh criticisms from presidential aides who claim his proposed coalition is crumbling before takeoff.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to describe Atiku’s political future as “bleak,” mocking the ongoing alliance-building efforts between opposition figures including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, and Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.
“Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El-Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated,” Onanuga wrote. “Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again.”
The scathing post followed a similarly pointed comment by another presidential aide, Tunde Rahman, who declared that defections of key opposition figures—such as former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori—to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had severely weakened the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and exposed the fragility of Atiku’s coalition.
Rahman called the defections “the biggest shocker ever” to Atiku’s 2027 presidential dreams. He added, “Indeed, the counting of PDP governors crossing over to APC has begun. Isn’t Atiku’s coalition dead on arrival?”
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Both aides suggested that with more opposition governors aligning themselves with President Bola Tinubu, the prospect of a unified front against the APC in the next election cycle is swiftly fading.
Atiku Abubakar, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the PDP banner and came second behind President Tinubu, has not publicly responded to the remarks. However, political analysts say the recent developments reflect the uphill battle he faces in reasserting control over a fragmented opposition.
As the APC continues to consolidate power, many are watching to see whether Atiku can hold what remains of his base together—or if the defections are a sign of deeper fractures within the PDP and the broader opposition landscape.