The Presidency has taken a swipe at columnist Steve Osuji over his assessment of the 2027 presidential race, accusing him of presenting Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, as a “messianic” opposition figure.

Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications/Spokesperson, Dr Sunday Dare, made the criticism in a statement disclosed via his X account on Monday titled “Steve Osuji’s 2027 Prophetic Fantasy.”

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Dare accused Osuji of what he described as “unwarranted condescension, frantic hyperbole, and a palpable disdain for institutional reality,” arguing that his commentary on the 2027 political landscape was driven by partisan sentiment rather than objective analysis.

According to the presidential aide, Osuji had attempted to portray President Tinubu as an imperiled incumbent while elevating Obi as an “infallible, messianic” opposition figure.

Dare particularly rejected the suggestion that Obi had effectively won the 2023 presidential election before it was allegedly “glitched” away.

He described the claim as a “comforting fairy tale for the opposition,” arguing that it ignored Nigeria’s electoral geography and constitutional requirements for winning the presidency.

Dare said a candidate who failed to secure meaningful votes across critical parts of the northern and central regions could not claim a national mandate simply by winning strongly in certain areas.

“Winning pockets of hyper-mobilized angst in isolated urban enclaves does not translate to a pan-Nigerian victory,” he argued.

The presidential aide also questioned Obi’s political trajectory, referencing his movement from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party and his reported association with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He rejected Osuji’s portrayal of Obi’s political approach as “organic consistency,” arguing that presidential politics required structured party organs, nationwide organisation, transparent debates and institutional accountability.

Dare further described Obi as “a digital-age populist riding the transient waves of economic anxiety and social media echo chambers,” while challenging the notion that an aversion to traditional campaign structures automatically represented political revolution.

Dare Accuses Osuji of Political Gatekeeping

The Presidency also criticised Osuji’s treatment of other potential presidential contenders, including Donald Duke, Omoyele Sowore and Adewole Adebayo.

Dare objected to their characterisation as “spoilers” and “clowns,” arguing that dismissing political figures who do not align with a preferred candidate amounts to intolerance towards pluralism.

He described such an approach as “partisan gatekeeping disguised as high-minded critique.”

Dare’s criticism comes as political calculations and alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election continue to intensify, with opposition parties and political figures positioning themselves for the contest.

While Osuji’s analysis focused heavily on the prospects of opposition forces, Dare used his response to defend the Tinubu administration’s record and challenge what he described as attempts to portray the President as politically vulnerable.

He argued that the administration had confronted longstanding structural problems, including fuel subsidy and foreign exchange distortions, and maintained that the impact of its reforms would increasingly become evident.

Dare also dismissed criticism surrounding Tinubu’s working vacation, rejecting suggestions that the President was “on the run” or “incommunicado.”

According to him, modern governance requires international engagements, economic diplomacy and strategic planning beyond the confines of Abuja.

He maintained that the 2027 election would ultimately be decided by Nigerians based on governance and measurable results rather than what he described as political “demagoguery.”

Dare concluded his response with a warning to critics of the administration: “Forget your Expresso. Smell the coffee.”

The Nigeria Police Force has raised a nationwide security alert over intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on churches, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations across the country.

The warning was contained in a police wireless message dated September 13, 2026, issued by the Department of Operations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The message, marked “Security General” and tagged “Treat as Very Important,” was circulated to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police overseeing Zones 1–17, Commissioners of Police, Mobile Police formations, counter-terrorism units and other specialised formations.

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According to the communication, intelligence available to the Department of Operations indicates an “increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks” on places of worship, learning institutions, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.

The police identified the North-East, North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-West as areas of particular concern.

The Force also disclosed that intelligence had revealed the movement of armed elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.

It further said suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operatives and local collaborators were conducting surveillance and reconnaissance of potential targets.

The police described the threat to learning institutions as particularly concerning as schools prepare for the 2026/2027 academic session.

According to the alert, terrorists could exploit the concentration of students and staff in schools to cause mass casualties.

The Force also warned that attacks could be planned ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising concerns that terrorist elements may seek to destabilise communities and create widespread fear before the polls.

The police assessed the intelligence as a possible progression from “intent to preparatory activity,” stressing that the development required immediate and proactive security measures.

Consequently, all affected commands and formations were directed to heighten security around places of worship, schools, NYSC camps and other vulnerable locations.

Police commanders were ordered to intensify intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements around identified vulnerable areas.

Commissioners of Police were also directed to tighten security at state borders, entry and exit routes and other critical approaches to prevent the infiltration and movement of armed elements.

The Force further directed its commands to work closely with other security and intelligence agencies, school authorities, religious leaders and the management of the National Youth Service Corps to strengthen information sharing and establish effective early-warning mechanisms.

“All personnel should maintain heightened vigilance and report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or objects through established channels,” the message stated.

The police also directed that any credible threat or incident be reported immediately to the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of Operations.

All commands were ordered to ensure strict compliance with the directive and provide feedback on security measures put in place.

Lagos State House of Assembly member and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has been captured on video kneeling before the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, while pleading for forgiveness.

In the video circulating on social media, Elliot is seen on his knees before Gbajabiamila and other individuals as he apologises for an undisclosed matter.

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Speaking during the encounter, Elliot said, “I am sorry, I have no excuse. I have nothing other than to say I am deeply sorry. I’m deeply sorry, sir. And I am hoping… to be cultured… I am sorry, sir?

The exact reason for Elliot’s apology was not known as of the time of filing this report.

The video has nevertheless generated reactions online, particularly because of the political relationship between Elliot and Gbajabiamila, who has been a prominent figure in Lagos politics and a political mentor to the lawmaker.

See video below