Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has mocked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, branding him a “loser again” in the wake of the recent wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among the defectors are Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa — Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election — both of whom were key figures in the PDP’s power base.
Reacting to the developments via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Onanuga, who serves as Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, did not mince words.
“Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El-Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated. Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again.”
Atiku, who finished second to President Tinubu in the 2023 elections, is reportedly working to rebuild his political base ahead of 2027.
However, the recent defections have been described by analysts as a major blow to his ambitions and a sign of weakening support within the PDP.
Meanwhile, the APC’s growing foothold in the South-South, particularly with Oborevwori and Okowa’s defection, shows a sign of possible realignment of political forces ahead of the next general elections.
