Presidency Blasts Buhari-Era Appointees for Joining Opposition Coalition

The Presidency has lashed out at former officials who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari for aligning with the new opposition coalition gearing up to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Strategy, criticised the defectors, accusing them of pursuing personal interests rather than upholding principles or ideology.

Among those singled out by Onanuga are:

• Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and a founding member of the APC, whom Onanuga alleged distanced himself from the party after losing the 2022 presidential primary to Tinubu.
• Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General, who Onanuga said has been disconnected from the APC since his unsuccessful bid for the Kebbi State governorship.
• Hadi Sirika, former Minister of Aviation, who is currently facing legal action over allegations of contract splitting and other offences.
• Rauf Aregbesola, ex-Governor of Osun State and former Interior Minister, who Onanuga claimed was expelled from the APC for anti-party activities during the last Osun election.

In a statement posted on Facebook Wednesday night, Onanuga warned Nigerians to be wary of the coalition, describing its members as “desperate politicians” driven by their opposition to Tinubu rather than shared values or vision.

He further predicted that the alliance would soon collapse under the weight of the members’ competing ambitions and internal divisions.

The Presidency’s remarks underscore the growing rift within the ruling APC and the mounting pressure from the opposition coalition, which aims to unseat Tinubu in 2027.

As reported by Premium Times, months of behind-the-scenes meetings culminated this week in the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the new political platform for the coalition. The group unveiled experienced political figures as interim leaders, including former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman, former Osun Governor and Tinubu ally-turned-critic Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, and former Minister of Youth and Sports Bolaji Abdullahi as spokesperson.

Keyamo Ridicules Coalition

Festus Keyamo, Aviation Minister and APC leader, also mocked the opposition bloc, arguing that their defection to the ADC effectively weakens their former parties while strengthening the APC.

“By law, individuals cannot simultaneously belong to multiple political parties. Their public alignment with the ADC signals a formal departure from their old parties,” Keyamo stated on X. “In reality, the PDP once Nigeria’s strongest opposition — is now crumbling.”

The newly formed coalition draws from a broad pool of political actors across the PDP, Labour Party, and even disenchanted members of the APC. Prominent figures include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Bukola Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi, Abubakar Malami, among others.

However, Keyamo dismissed the coalition as little more than an elaborate power grab by Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that Peter Obi is being exploited for his popularity, without any genuine intention of giving him the coalition’s presidential ticket.

“They want Obi’s support base, but they don’t plan to offer him the ticket,” Keyamo argued. “The choice of David Mark as interim Chairman reveals the real agenda. If Obi isn’t given the ticket, his supporters walk away plain and simple.”

Another Realignment in Nigerian Politics?

Coalition-building is not new to Nigeria’s political landscape. The ruling APC itself was born from a merger of opposition parties in 2013, leading to its historic victory over the PDP in 2015.

Observers say the ADC-led coalition could mark another critical shift, as the opposition attempts to rally against the Tinubu administration ahead of 2027.

Nonetheless, Keyamo dismissed their efforts as insignificant. “In the end, the PDP and Labour Party will lose ground, the ADC will become a political sideshow, and the APC remains unshaken,” he concluded.