Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s renewed political aspirations, declaring them “doomed” in light of the apparent collapse of his proposed opposition coalition and the defection of key allies to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a post shared via X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga criticized the coalition efforts led by Atiku and involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.
“Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El-Rufai, Babachir, and their latest member Baba-Ahmed are trying to form has already fallen apart. Key figures, including his former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and former CPC members, are distancing themselves from what many view as a toxic alliance. Atiku is once again on the losing side,” Onanuga wrote.
His remarks followed a similar post by fellow presidential aide Tunde Rahman, who commented on the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), highlighting the recent defections of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the current Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to the APC.
Rahman described the defections as a significant blow to Atiku’s credibility and prospects, suggesting that the coalition was “dead on arrival.”
“With PDP governors now rallying behind President Bola Tinubu, it’s clear the tide has turned. As my people would say, a good Saturday reveals itself from Friday,” Rahman added.
