Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has dismissed the chances of a joint presidential ticket between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise TV on Thursday, Onanuga said that even a coalition between Atiku and Obi would not be strong enough to unseat President Tinubu.
Daily Trust earlier reported that the opposition coalition recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition includes notable political figures such as Atiku, Obi, former governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), as well as former Senate President David Mark, among others.
Reacting to the development, Onanuga said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) does not consider the coalition a serious challenge.
“They are free to form alliances but as far as the APC is concerned we are not seeing them as any threat,” he said.
“If you merge Peter Obi and Atiku together, there is no way the two of them can beat a Bola Tinubu and Shettima ticket. It is going to be impossible.”
He also suggested that the coalition is premature in launching its political activities ahead of the next general election.
“They are jumping the gun, it is not yet time for politicking,” Onanuga added.
The presidential aide maintained that President Tinubu’s track record would be a strong factor in the 2027 elections, suggesting that achievements in office would speak louder than alliances.
