Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, has dismissed the newly formed opposition coalition, describing its members as power-hungry politicians united solely by their disdain for Tinubu.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Onanuga said most of the politicians who recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had long distanced themselves from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Their exit happened months and even years ago,” he wrote, reacting to the coalition’s Tuesday meeting where the ADC was adopted as its official platform for the 2027 general election.
At the gathering, former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were announced as interim national chairman and national secretary of the ADC.
On Wednesday, the coalition was formally unveiled in Abuja, drawing a crowd of prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former governors Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke, and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as ex-ministers Solomon Dalung and Abubakar Malami.
Others present included former APC chairman John Odigie Oyegun, publisher Dele Momodu, senators Ireti Kingibe and Eyinnanya Abaribe, and several others with past ties to the APC.
Onanuga downplays significance of their defection
Onanuga, however, downplayed the significance of their defection, insisting the APC won’t lose sleep over their departure.
“Rotimi Amaechi’s soul left the APC in 2022 after he lost the presidential primary to President Tinubu,” he said. “Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General, has been estranged from the APC since Tinubu became president and since his failed Kebbi governorship bid.”
He also aimed at Hadi Sirika, saying the former aviation minister — now aligned with the ADC — is currently on trial for alleged contract fraud.
On Aregbesola, Onanuga said: “The renegade Rauf Aregbesola committed anti-party activities in the last Osun election and was expelled for being an unfit APC member.”
He also described other defectors like Kashim Imam and Chief John Oyegun as disgruntled elements trying to rebrand themselves as national saviours.
“Kashim Imam walked away from the APC after failing to land the VP ticket in 2022, and Oyegun, who once led the party, has long lost interest in it and has been involved with this coalition from the start,” he noted.
Onanuga urged Nigerians to be vigilant and not fall for what he called an opportunistic alliance.
“My advice to Nigerians: Shine your eyes very well,” he warned. “A political party without a clear agenda or ideology — whose only unifying factor is hatred for President Tinubu — can’t be good for our country. It will only set us back by decades.
“These politicians are desperados, hungry for power, not for the benefit of Nigerians but for themselves.”
