Atiku, Obasanjo, Presidency trade words over 2027 elections

A fresh war of words has erupted between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Presidency, intensifying political discourse ahead of the 2027 general election.

The latest exchange followed recent comments by Obasanjo on his relationship with Atiku during their time in office, as well as responses from the Presidency and Atiku’s camp, with each side defending its position on leadership, governance and Nigeria’s political future.

Speaking in a recent interview, Obasanjo reflected on his decision to pick Atiku as his running mate in 1999, saying that if he had known the former vice president as well as he later came to know him, he would not have selected him.

“The man I picked as my running mate, if I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him,” Obasanjo said, adding that he was grateful their differences did not derail his administration’s focus on governing the country.

Obasanjo’s remarks have reignited public discussion about the long-standing political relationship between the two former allies, whose alliance eventually deteriorated during the closing years of their administration.

In response, Atiku’s media team dismissed the comments as unnecessary, insisting that the former vice president remains focused on issues affecting Nigerians rather than revisiting political disagreements from the past.

The media office maintained that Atiku’s political record should be judged by Nigerians and not by personal opinions expressed years after both men left office.

The Presidency also weighed into the debate, accusing opposition figures of concentrating on political rhetoric instead of presenting credible alternatives to the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Presidential aides argued that the current administration remains focused on implementing economic reforms and addressing the country’s security and development challenges, rather than engaging in political distractions.

The exchange has generated widespread reactions across the political landscape, with supporters of the three camps offering differing interpretations of the comments.

Political analysts say the public statements underscore the continued influence of past political relationships on Nigeria’s evolving political conversation ahead of the next general election.

Despite the sharp exchanges, none of the principal actors announced any new political move, leaving the latest episode largely as a battle of narratives over leadership, legacy and the country’s political direction.