Atiku, Tinubu Camps Clash Over President’s Political Pedigree Ahead of 2027

A fresh war of words has erupted between allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the camp of President Bola Tinubu, following claims by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, that the President remains politically ahead of opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Keyamo had, in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday, highlighted Tinubu’s political pedigree and long-standing role in Nigeria’s opposition politics, stating, “You cannot beat a master at his game.”

But reacting in a statement on Monday, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, dismissed the claim, arguing that past political triumphs cannot substitute for present-day governance outcomes.

Shaibu further shifted the debate from political strategy to living conditions, insisting that Nigerians are more concerned about current realities than past victories.

He said Tinubu may have excelled in opposition politics, but governance is about results, not rhetoric.

According to Shaibu, Nigerians are not asking who once outfoxed whom in 2007; they are asking why hunger is rising, why insecurity persists, and why the cost of living has become unbearable.

He described the President as an “abysmal failure” on the scale of performance, adding that no amount of myth-making can mask the truth.

Atiku’s aide doubled down in a follow-up tweet, broadening his criticism of the administration’s performance.

He argued that being steps ahead in political scheming means nothing when millions of Nigerians are being dragged backwards by hunger, insecurity, and a collapsing standard of living.

Shaibu stated that governance is not a masterclass in manipulation but a test of compassion, competence, and courage.

The exchange underscores intensifying political positioning among key actors as parties begin early manoeuvres ahead of the 2027 general elections, with debates increasingly shifting from campaign strategy to questions of governance and public welfare.