The defection of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has ignited a sharp exchange between the Presidency and the opposition, with Atiku Abubakar’s aide claiming Aso Rock is panicking ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to comments by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Atiku’s Special Adviser on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the reaction as revealing anxiety rather than confidence. Shaibu argued that Obi’s move exposes deeper fears within the ruling camp.
“Calling Obi ‘wandering’ while defending an administration built on political migrations and elite bargains is hypocrisy dressed up as commentary. Nigerian politics has never been a monastery. Pretending otherwise insults your own record,” Shaibu said.
He also rejected attempts to dismiss post-election discontent, emphasizing that concerns about the 2023 polls remain valid. “Your attempt to brand legitimate electoral grievances as ‘bitterness’ is not analysis; it is damage control. Millions of Nigerians questioned the 2023 process. You can sneer at them, but you cannot erase them,” he added.
Shaibu further criticized the ruling administration for relying on propaganda rather than addressing real challenges. “You dismiss global ideas while defending policies copied wholesale from elsewhere. You praise ‘homegrown solutions’ while celebrating reforms Nigerians experience only as hunger, insecurity, and collapsing livelihoods,” he said.
Addressing speculation that Obi would ‘play second fiddle’ to Atiku, Shaibu dismissed it as fiction, highlighting that there is no imposed hierarchy and that coalition discussions are ongoing. “This fury is not about Obi. It is about 2027. It is about fear that Nigerians are organising beyond your control. Insults don’t win elections, spin doesn’t fill stomachs, and arrogance does not intimidate hungry people,” he said.
Shaibu’s statement underscores growing political tension ahead of the 2027 elections, with Obi’s defection intensifying the spotlight on both the ruling party and opposition strategies.
