The spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has told Nigerians to be careful with the new political group that recently came together to challenge the current government.
Onanuga didn’t hold back as he criticized every major figure in the coalition, especially those who were once members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He pointed out that people like Abubakar Malami, Rotimi Amaechi, Hadi Sirika, and Rauf Aregbesola had already moved on from the APC a long time ago.
Earlier on Wednesday, several political leaders gathered at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. During the meeting, they officially agreed to use the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their platform to challenge the APC in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Among the well-known attendees were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, and other key political players like Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, Solomon Dalung, Senator Gabriel Suswam, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Emeka Ihedioha, and retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
Onanuga claimed that the group is not united by a shared vision but only by their dislike for President Tinubu. He said such a group cannot help the country and accused them of wanting to take Nigeria backwards.
He added that the APC is not sad about the exit of people like Rotimi Amaechi, who he noted left the party after losing to Tinubu in the 2022 presidential primary.
According to Onanuga, Abubakar Malami has never really supported Tinubu and distanced himself from the APC after his failed attempt to become Kebbi State governor.
He also mentioned that Hadi Sirika is currently facing trial over issues like contract splitting and other allegations tied to his time in office.
Onanuga pointed out that Rauf Aregbesola has already been expelled from the APC for working against the party and has no political influence anymore.
He further stated that Kashim Imam and former APC Chairman John Odigie Oyegun have become irrelevant and are only bitter politicians who left the party.
“My advice to Nigerians is this,” Onanuga said, “Be careful. This is a political group with no real direction or purpose. The only thing they share is hatred for President Tinubu. That kind of group cannot help Nigeria and will only make things worse.”
He also warned that these politicians are just power-hungry and don’t care about the people. He said they simply don’t want to be pushed out of the political scene and are trying hard to stay relevant.
Onanuga concluded by predicting that this coalition would soon fall apart because the members all have personal interests that won’t allow them to work together for long.
