Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga asserts that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s political ambitions are failing as key allies defect to the APC, dismantling his proposed coalition

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has publicly stated that the political ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are disintegrating, citing the defection of key allies to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the primary cause.

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Onanuga claims that Atiku’s proposed coalition, which includes former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, and Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, is falling apart.

In a post on X, Onanuga criticized Atiku’s coalition efforts, asserting, “Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated.

Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again.”

Onanuga’s comments follow a similar statement by fellow presidential aide Tunde Rahman, who highlighted the deepening internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to the defection of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the APC.

Rahman described these defections as “the biggest shocker ever” for Atiku, whose 2023 presidential bid was unsuccessful.

These statements from presidential aides suggest that the APC is actively leveraging defections to weaken Atiku’s political standing and coalition efforts.