Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has recounted how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was allegedly sidelined and humiliated under the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari, calling on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to make personal sacrifices to unite the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a broadcast interview aired on Symfoni TV in Abuja at 8:00 PM on Friday, October 23, 2026, Akande, who served as the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President during the Buhari administration, reflected on internal power struggles within the ruling party and the current state of opposition politics in Nigeria.
Recounting the political friction during Buhari’s tenure, Akande alleged that despite President Tinubu’s pivotal role as a national leader and co-founder of the All Progressives Congress (APC), key figures within Buhari’s inner circle deliberately marginalized him. According to Akande, Tinubu endured repeated political humiliation and cold-shoulder treatment from powerful cabals within the Villa who attempted to dismantle his political influence prior to the 2023 APC primary elections.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faced immense opposition and marginalisation within the very party he helped build,” Akande observed during the interview. “He was humiliated and pushed to the background on several occasions during the previous administration, yet he remained strategic and resilient until he eventually secured the presidential ticket.”
Turning his attention to the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election, Akande criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s stance on power returning to the Northern region, describing the argument as an insult to national unity and rotational presidency. Akande urged Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to step back, make personal sacrifices, and allow a broader, unified coalition of opposition leaders to emerge.
“Atiku is basically saying that the North is angry and wants power back. With due respect to our brothers in the North, that idea is an insult. We must maintain a rotational presidency for the purpose of building a sense of national belonging.” “If the opposition is serious about building a formidable challenge for 2027, top political leaders like Atiku must make sacrifices.
They should have accommodated leaders like Chibuike Amaechi or prevented Peter Obi from leaving, rather than insisting on personal ambitions.” The remarks have drawn immediate reactions across major political parties. Felix Morka (National Publicity Secretary, APC): Dismissed claims of institutional marginalisation within the party, stating that the APC remains a democratic institution that ultimately rewarded President Tinubu’s perseverance and leadership.
Paul Ibe (Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar): Defended the former Vice President, stating that Atiku’s engagement in national politics is rooted in democratic principles and constitutional rights rather than regional entitlement, adding that opposition coalition efforts remain open to all well-meaning leaders.
