Politics
2027: Presidency May Not Be Your Destiny, Support Tinubu – Bwala To Atiku
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to give up on his long-standing ambition to become Nigeria’s president.
During an appearance on Journalist Hangout, a programme aired on TVC on Monday, Bwala said Atiku’s consistent failure to secure the presidency points to a higher force at play.
The former lawmaker, who once worked closely with Atiku, suggested that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain should consider his political journey as possibly complete.
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“If I have the opportunity to meet him face to face, what I would tell him is just this: ‘Your Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, you have to believe in destiny.
“God gives power to whomever He chooses, and it seems, from the facts on the ground, it may not have been God’s will for you to govern Nigeria,’” Bwala said.
He encouraged Atiku to leverage his decades-long relationship with President Tinubu to help move the country forward, rather than continue on a path that may end in disappointment.
“There are many other ways you can contribute, and since you have been a friend to President Bola Tinubu for many years, come together and bring your contributions towards Nigeria that both of you wanted to create for the Nigerian people so that your legacy will be that in your political dying days, you were able to achieve some of your dreams, albeit through your friend,” he advised.
However, Bwala warned that if Atiku insists on running again in 2027, the outcome may not be favorable.
“If he insists that he wants to run and wants to become the president, as we are already seeing it playing out, his political ending may not be as palatable as he is thinking because right now, from his political family, he has lost substantial people, probably sixty to seventy per cent,” he said.
Bwala also commented on growing rumors of a potential alliance between Atiku and Peter Obi, who was Atiku’s running mate in 2019 before contesting independently in 2023.
He said any such collaboration would be politically damaging for Obi.
“And then the conversation with Peter Obi – Peter Obi will be making the biggest mistake of his life to now come together under the agreement that he will be a running mate because all of the people you are hearing ‘Obidient’ had only one contract with Peter Obi, that he will run for president.
“The minute Peter Obi drops the idea of running for president himself, I can guarantee you he will lose the majority of the people that are following him. This is without taking away the fact that Peter Obi himself may not be comfortable in that arrangement,” Bwala added.
Turning to ongoing efforts to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, Bwala dismissed them as ineffective, citing Tinubu’s growing influence across party lines.
“But those who are close watchers of events and activities and are not moved by emotions will see signs that indicate the coalition is dead on arrival. Governors on the platforms of their parties are joining us; senators are joining us.
“Everywhere they think they have strong structures, the people are coming under the tutelage of President Bola Tinubu,” he stated.
“President Bola Tinubu may not be perfect; he may make mistakes, but one fact is clear: his head and his heart are right. There is no politician alive today who has the political gravitas to gather people as much as President Bola Tinubu. We are not bothered,” Bwala concluded.
The lingering intra-party crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has forced senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal to dump the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State, disclosed this in a resignation letter dated March 11, 2026, addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Tambuwal/Shinfiri Ward of Tambuwal Local Government Area.
The letter, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, said the decision followed consultations with his political associates and supporters.
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“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my political associates and supporters, I have decided to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect,” Tambuwal stated.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, lingering disputes and leadership disagreements in the PDP made it increasingly difficult for him to remain in the party.
“The persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements and growing divisions within the party have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my membership,” he added.
Despite leaving the party, the senator expressed appreciation to the PDP for the opportunities it gave him to serve in different capacities.
“I remain grateful to the party for the platform it provided me to serve Nigeria as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later as Governor of Sokoto State,” he said.
Tambuwal confirmed that he had joined the ADC alongside his political associates and supporters, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen democratic values and provide a credible political alternative.
“My decision is guided by the conviction that Nigeria requires a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and a clear commitment to national development,” he added.
Tambuwal served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 before emerging governor of Sokoto State in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later defected to the PDP the same year and was re-elected governor in 2019.
After completing his second term in 2023, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent Sokoto South.
His defection to the ADC is expected to alter the political dynamics in Sokoto State, where he remains one of the state’s most influential political figures.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has explained that the persistent crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party compelled him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by his deputy, Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move was described as a necessary step taken in the interest of the state and supported by political stakeholders across Zamfara.
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According to the statement, Governor Lawal had remained committed to the PDP despite the ongoing leadership crisis and had made several efforts to reconcile factions within the party.
However, attempts to achieve peace and unity reportedly failed, leading to prolonged legal battles.
The development followed a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The earlier judgment had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The governor was said to have informed political stakeholders during a series of meetings that he would make a final decision about his political future after the appellate court delivered its ruling.
Following the judgment, Lawal concluded that joining the APC would better position him to continue what he described as the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”
His defection marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Zamfara State and could influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has handed a significant setback to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, dismissing his appeal challenging a Federal High Court ruling that questioned his eligibility to contest the upcoming governorship election.
A three-member panel delivered a unanimous judgment on Monday, affirming that the trial court acted correctly when it allowed Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, the plaintiff, to amend his originating summons.
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Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, who read the lead judgment, said the governor failed to show that the High Court’s decision caused any miscarriage of justice or denied him a fair hearing.
The appeal was therefore dismissed for lacking merit, and the court awarded ₦2 million in costs against Aiyedatiwa.
The ruling reinforces the November 24, 2025, Federal High Court decision in Akure, which granted Egbuwalo permission to challenge Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility for re-election.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal also rejected an application by Aiyedatiwa to set aside a January 27, 2026, order staying proceedings in the case before the Federal High Court.
The appellate court clarified that the stay was a lawful exercise of its jurisdiction aimed at protecting the integrity of the proceedings.
The panel further emphasized that attempting to overturn its own order would be akin to sitting on appeal over its own decision.
The governor’s remaining option, the court noted, is to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court. Another ₦2 million in costs was awarded against Aiyedatiwa.
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