Fell free to test your popularity against Tinubu in 2027– Presidency dares Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, El-Rufai

The Presidency has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is prepared to face any challenge from opposition leaders in the 2027 general election.

In response to critical remarks from political opponents, the Presidency labeled the comments as “distracting” and “Machiavellian,” urging opposition figures to focus on the future.

Leading opposition voices—including Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi—were advised to hold off on flexing their political muscles until the next election, signaling that the battle for 2027 is yet to come.

Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Tinubu, challenged them to wait until the next election to test their popularity against the president.

Dare emphasised that the actions of these opposition leaders were premature, urging them to focus on the future rather than prematurely questioning the president’s leadership.

In a post on X, Dare wrote: “While the President was seeking solutions to Nigeria’s energy problems in Dar es Salaam, some ‘wannabes’ were heating up the polity,” Dare added.

“This is 2025, not 2027. Let those who want to test their popularity with Nigerians wait for the next election.”

Recently, opposition figures Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi have launched sharp criticisms against President Bola Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.

At an event in Abuja, Atiku accused the Tinubu-led APC of bribing opposition leaders with N50 million each in a bid to destabilize their ranks. He claimed the money was part of an effort to sow discord among the opposition.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai expressed his disillusionment with the APC, declaring that he no longer recognizes the party due to a lack of internal democracy. He claimed that key party organs, including the National Executive Committee (NEC) and caucus, have not convened in two years.

“I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it’s a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show,” El-Rufai stated.

In a similar vein, Amaechi called for “brutal force” to wrest power from President Tinubu in 2027, asserting that the president would not peacefully relinquish power.

Provide evidence APC is giving opposition Leaders N50m bribe – Another Party knocks Atiku

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, has been dared by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to present hard data to support his allegation that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is buying opposition groups with N50 million.

Atiku made the contentious claim while serving as a panelist at a national conference in Abuja, cautioning that if such actions persist, Nigeria’s democracy may be in danger.

In response, APGA’s Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, issued a statement on Thursday, demanding that Atiku present solid proof to support his accusations. Opara criticised the former VP for spreading “unfounded rumors” that, in his view, only serve to further inflame political tensions in the country.

The statement reads, “APGA is compelled to respond to the baseless allegation made by former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, claiming that the ruling APC is buying over opposition parties with N50 million.

“We condemn this assertion in the strongest terms, as it is without any proof or substance. It is unfortunate that Atiku has resorted to spreading unfounded rumours, which only serve to heat up the polity and undermine the country’s democratic process.

“If indeed Atiku’s interest is to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, we urge him to provide specific details of the opposition parties that have collected the said N50 million. It’s time for him to put up or shut up!”

“We, therefore, challenge Atiku to mention names, provide evidence, and substantiate his claims. Anything short of this is mere political grandstanding, which will not be taken seriously by Nigerians.”

PDP Governor tells FCT Minister Wike to resigned from Party now, to join APC

Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party over alleged anti-party activities.

Bala Mohammed, who accused the FCT Minister of already serving the ruling party, All Progressives Congress’s interests, said it’s better for him to join the APC officially.

He labeled Wike’s attempts to tarnish his reputation as desperate and ineffective, stating that Nigerians can see through the minister’s alleged facade.

The Bauchi governor, on Thursday slammed Wike, calling him a “transactional politician” whose loyalty shifts with his personal ambitions.

Reacting, Wike in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, tackled Mohammed, accusing him of being a greedy politician.

Olayinka urged the governor to stop using the appointment of the minister by President Bola Tinubu as an excuse for his “lack of capacity to provide leadership as chairman of the party’s Governors’ Forum”.

But responding in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, Mohammed who doubles as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum described Wike’s recent attack as reckless, deceptive, and reflective of declining political relevance.

He accused Wike of a pattern of betrayal, citing figures such as Senator John Azuta Mbata, Dr. Peter Odili, and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as victims of Wike’s alleged treachery.

The statement further criticized Wike’s tenure as a “use-and-dump” politician who contributed to internal crises within the PDP by orchestrating the downfall of successive party leaders, including Uche Secondus and Iyorchia Ayu.

“Let Nyesom Wike be reminded that while he lives in a delusional self-created universe of seeing splits and factions in the PDP the party is resolute and united apart from a few turncoats and quislings led by him who are desperately committed to weakening it for the benefit of the APC whose willing tool and favoured foot soldier he has become.

“Under Sen Bala Mohammed’s vibrant and visionary leadership the PDP Governors Forum and the party’s core organs including the BOT are working quietly and assiduously in cleaning the party of Wike’s treachery and perfidy.

“Such a path of perdition is not the portion of genuine PDP members who are working tirelessly to retire the APC in 2027- the very party, with its failed policies, that Wike has vowed to help win re-election in 2027.

“Wike’s antics cannot detract Bala Mohammed’s record. His outburst is the desperate cry of a man whose political relevance is fading.

“The time for noise making is over ; it is time for governance. Let Wike reflect on his conduct and do the honorable thing: RESIGN AND ALIGN FULLY WITH THE APC he so eagerly serves. Until then his words will remain as hollow as his loyalty,” the statement reads.