The Presidency has firmly declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain unbeatable in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, boldly insisting that not even a united front between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi would pose a serious challenge to his re-election bid.
This assertion was made by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, during an exclusive interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time program on Thursday night. His remarks have since ignited significant reactions and discussions among political observers and the general public.
According to Onanuga, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is confident and unbothered by the emerging opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He argued that the party does not view this coalition, or any potential alliance involving Atiku and Obi, as a credible threat to Tinubu’s stronghold across the country.
“They are free to form alliances, but as far as the APC is concerned, we are not seeing them as any threat,” Onanuga said emphatically. “If you merge Peter Obi and Atiku together, there is no way the two of them can beat a Bola Tinubu and Shettima ticket. It is going to be impossible.”
He further elaborated that President Tinubu’s track record of achievements and strategic policies will ultimately work in his favor during the elections. Onanuga maintained that critics who continue to attack the administration are simply disconnected from the realities on the ground and fail to acknowledge the positive impact of Tinubu’s leadership.
“There is a lot of noise all over the place, and it doesn’t tally with the reality on the ground. People are benefitting from the Tinubu-led government, and at the right time, Tinubu will tap into that — people under him have enjoyed,” he stated confidently.
Onanuga also took time to dismiss allegations suggesting that President Tinubu is responsible for fueling internal crises within the ADC. He argued that Tinubu strongly believes in freedom of expression and has no involvement in the party’s internal disagreements.
“Tinubu supports freedom of speech and freedom of expression. He doesn’t have any hand in the challenges they are facing in the ADC. He was not even in Nigeria when the internal problems they are facing started,” he clarified.
Turning his attention to Atiku Abubakar, Onanuga criticized the former vice president’s repeated bids for the presidency, describing them as unsuccessful and evidence that Atiku lacks the national appeal necessary to win. “Atiku has been in the race more than Tinubu and Obi. He has tried several times to become president, but he always fails at the gate,” Onanuga noted.
When discussing Peter Obi, he argued that while Obi’s influence during the 2023 elections was notable, it was largely confined to certain regions and cannot guarantee success at a national level even if he partners with Atiku. Onanuga pointed out that regional sentiments and electoral geography would prevent the duo from overcoming Tinubu’s formidable support base.
“If you look at the configuration and geography of our country, the last time Atiku came out, he was trying to whip up the sentiment of ‘I’m your son,’ and the South rejected him. If you have an Obi that you want to use as your running mate, that fact doesn’t mean you will get the exact votes you would get when he vied for president,” he explained.
Onanuga further highlighted Tinubu’s calculated efforts to solidify support in the North through strategic appointments and development initiatives. He claimed that Tinubu’s inclusive approach to governance has won him loyal supporters across northern regions, further cementing his electoral prospects.
“Tinubu is doing a lot of good for the North. In terms of appointments, he has appointed people from the North-West and North-East into good positions, and I think in politics, a good turn deserves a response from people who are beneficiaries of Tinubu’s government,” he concluded.
Onanuga’s comments have since generated a flurry of reactions from political stakeholders, analysts, and ordinary Nigerians, many of whom are debating the potential impact of a possible Atiku-Obi alliance, as well as Tinubu’s standing among voters ahead of the crucial 2027 election.