Presidency Labels Atiku Abubakar a "Veteran Candidate" and "Serial Defector" in Sharp Critique

Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga critiques Atiku Abubakar's presidential ambitions, labeling him a veteran candidate and a defector. Read the full political breakdown.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

The Presidency’s Social Media Offensive

The Presidency has launched a pointed verbal attack against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, categorizing him as a perennial aspirant who lacks party loyalty. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, took to social media on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, to characterize Atiku's career as one defined by constant movement between political platforms. The remarks were made in direct response to a recently released documentary detailing Atiku’s political journey and his consistent pursuit of the nation's highest office.

Comparisons to Peter Obi

In his critique, Onanuga drew a parallel between Atiku and the 2023 Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi. He labeled both men "serial defectors," implying that their political shifts are driven by convenience rather than ideology. This comparison seeks to frame the prominent opposition figures as unstable leaders, contrasting them with the current administration's established political structure. The Presidency’s choice to link the two leaders suggests a strategy of grouping disparate opposition forces into a single narrative of political opportunism.

A Decades-Long Presidential Pursuit

The label of "veteran presidential candidate" refers to Atiku Abubakar's storied and lengthy history in Nigerian electoral politics. It is a matter of public record that the former Vice President has been pursuing the presidency in various capacities since 1993. Over the last three decades, Atiku has contested across multiple party lines, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC). This persistence has become a central theme for both his supporters, who see it as experience, and his detractors, who view it as a sign of careerism.