Atiku’s aide accuses presidency of meddling in ADC crisis, fires back at Onanuga

The Media Adviser to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has strongly criticised presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, over his comments regarding the leadership crisis rocking the All Democratic Congress (ADC).

Onanuga had earlier taken to his X handle (formerly Twitter) to condemn the internal wrangling within the ADC, accusing the party of engaging in illegality. In a sharply worded post, the presidential spokesman wrote: “Just continue your illegality, the lawless ADC. The dog that wants to get lost in the forest will ignore the hunter’s whistle.”

His remarks have since sparked reactions from opposition figures, including Ibe, who accused the presidency of playing a partisan role in the crisis.

Responding directly to Onanuga, Ibe suggested that the presidential aide’s vocal criticism of the ADC was suspicious. “Dear @aonanuga1956,” Ibe wrote, “When a man is crying louder than the bereaved, just like you are doing now, there’s a likelihood he is the one who killed the person.”

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Ibe further alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had acted under the influence of the presidency in relation to the party’s internal dispute. According to him, there is credible information indicating that an INEC statement, which he claimed exposed the partisanship of the Prof. Joash Amupitan-led electoral umpire, was prepared within the presidency.

Although Ibe did not provide documentary evidence to support the allegation, he insisted that the development raises serious concerns about the neutrality of the electoral body in handling political party affairs.

The ADC has been grappling with a leadership tussle in recent weeks, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s national structure. The crisis has drawn public commentary from political actors across party lines, further heightening tensions ahead of future electoral activities.

As of press time, neither Onanuga nor officials of INEC had issued a formal response to Ibe’s allegations.