The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has launched a fresh political attack on former presidential candidate Peter Obi, declaring that he poses no real threat ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded statement shared via his account on Monday, Onanuga accused Obi of consistently targeting President Tinubu and his administration with criticisms, particularly on social media. He claimed that the former Labour Party flagbearer, alongside other opposition politicians, has made the President their “favourite whipping boy.”
The presidential aide also rejected any suggestion that Tinubu has a hand in the internal crises rocking opposition parties. He insisted that the President is not connected to Obi’s reported departure from the Labour Party or the challenges currently facing the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which Obi is now associated with.
Onanuga went further to criticise Obi’s leadership style, accusing him of failing to manage and resolve the post-election crisis within the Labour Party. According to him, despite enjoying massive online support through the Obidient Movement, Obi did not take concrete steps to transform that following into a structured political platform.
He argued that Obi’s move to align with the ADC reflects a lack of a solid political base, describing the party as one already entangled in internal disputes. The aide maintained that the problems facing the ADC are self-inflicted and have no link to the Tinubu administration.
Projecting ahead to the next presidential race, Onanuga expressed confidence that Obi would struggle to make any meaningful impact, even if he secures a party ticket. He stressed that the political landscape in 2027 would be significantly different from that of 2023, particularly with Tinubu now in office and able to campaign on his record.
He also downplayed Obi’s performance in the last election, suggesting that past electoral outcomes are not a reliable indicator of future success. According to him, incumbency and governance achievements would play a decisive role in shaping the next contest.
Onanuga concluded by urging opposition figures to focus on resolving their internal divisions and building viable political structures, rather than directing what he described as persistent and unfair criticism at the President.
