Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential aspirations as “dead on arrival,” following a recent television interview in which Atiku said it would be his final attempt at the presidency.
In a pointed statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Dare criticized Atiku’s performance during the interview, describing it as disjointed, self-indulgent, and lacking substance. He accused the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate of offering no credible alternative to the current administration’s economic reforms and failing to present a clear policy direction.
“At a time when the country is undergoing difficult but necessary economic reforms, Atiku offered nothing resembling a credible alternative,” Dare wrote. “When pressed for policy direction, there was none. No framework, no roadmap—just the familiar refrain of opposition for its own sake.”
Dare also suggested that Atiku’s remarks alienated key constituencies, including young people and political allies, portraying the interview as a monologue of grievance rather than a message of unity or coalition-building. He argued that the performance revealed fatigue, inconsistency, and a campaign anchored on looking backward rather than leading forward.
The statement comes as President Tinubu’s administration continues to implement economic reforms, which have drawn mixed reactions from the public. Dare emphasized that while the reforms are challenging, the direction is clear and results are beginning to emerge.
“For many Nigerians, that interview settled any lingering doubts,” Dare concluded. “It was not just unconvincing—it was disqualifying. Atiku Abubakar is not being denied relevance. He is losing it publicly, steadily, and now unmistakably.”
Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times, has yet to respond to Dare’s remarks. Political analysts note that the exchange underscores the intensifying political climate as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
