The Special Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Communications and Strategy, Phrank Shaibu, has said that it would be Nigerians—not Atiku alone—who would determine the political fate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election, arguing that widespread hardship and insecurity have left many citizens eager for change.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Shaibu dismissed claims by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, that Atiku lacked the capacity to govern Nigeria and would perform worse than the current administration if elected president.
“Babachir said Atiku cannot beat Bola Tinubu. For Bola Tinubu, he will not just be beaten by Atiku; he will be beaten by the Nigerian people,” Shaibu said.
“The Nigerian people who are hungry, whose relatives have been abducted and are still in the bush, are waiting to vote him out of power. It is not just about Atiku. It is the people of Nigeria who will decide in 2027.”
Shaibu described Lawal’s criticism of Atiku as the reaction of a disappointed politician whose preferred candidate failed to secure victory at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary.
“Babachir Lawal reminds me of a baby yanked off her mother’s breast while sucking. The moment you yank a baby off her mother’s breast, it will throw tantrums inconsolably. That is the case of Babachir Lawal,” he said.
The Atiku aide alleged that Lawal openly supported another aspirant during the primary election and became critical of the process after his preferred candidate lost.
He also rejected allegations by Lawal and other party members that the ADC presidential primary was manipulated in Atiku’s favour, insisting that the former vice president emerged victorious because of his political influence and nationwide structure.
“In a race that has an Atiku Abubakar, a Rotimi Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen, who ordinarily do you think would emerge the victor in a direct primary election that is dependent on structure?” Shaibu asked.
“Of these three names, Atiku naturally would defeat them. Anybody who claims rigging or irregularity should check the states where the other candidates won. Those were their strongholds.”
Responding to accusations that Atiku had failed to show empathy to victims of insecurity, Shaibu cited the former vice president’s support for some of the Chibok schoolgirls who escaped or were released from Boko Haram captivity.
“After the Chibok girls escaped from captivity in 2014, Atiku rehabilitated some of them. Over 57 of them were admitted into school and went through university after a preparatory programme,” he said.
“Today, some of these young people have graduated from the American University of Nigeria. It didn’t matter whether they were Christians or Muslims. That, for me, is empathy.”
Shaibu further dismissed claims that Atiku was anti-Christian or a tribalist, saying the former vice president had consistently worked with people from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds throughout his political career.
“For Atiku Abubakar, religion does not matter. I am a Christian, Paul Ibe is a Christian, and Atiku’s personal physician of over 20 years is a Christian,” he said.
He maintained that Atiku remains well-positioned to lead Nigeria and insisted that public dissatisfaction with the current administration would be a major factor in the 2027 presidential election.