The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, said the claims made by El-Rufa are baseless and absurd, saying President Tinubu has no intention of remaining in office beyond May 28, 2031, if re-elected in 2027

In the statement released, the Presidency affirmed its commitment to democratic principles

During a solidarity visit from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai alleged that the Tinubu administration is veering toward authoritarianism, comparing the president to Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has remained in power since 1982.

He also accused the current government of centralizing authority at the expense of federal principles, warning that such a trend threatens Nigeria’s democratic foundation.

“Honestly, sir, to me, it is even a disgrace. I mean, for people to behave the way they are behaving, it means that all the years of saying that we are for democracy and NADECO, all the claims that we are fighting for true federalism, and so on, it was all a pretense, all fake again. Because this government (Tinubu’s administration) is trying to centralize everything instead of devolving power to the lower levels.”

“The sum total of this is that we are facing an evil of such a large proportion in the history of this country that if we don’t come together and end this Tinubu administration by 2027, Tinubu will try to be our Paul Biya. All the signs are there, this is how Paul Biya started,” El-Rufai said.

Read Aso: 2027 Election: Atiku Makes Fresh Bid For Presidency

According to Onanuga, El-Rufai’s claims are evident that the plot by him and his associates in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to unseat Tinubu in 2027 is proving to be unattainable and a mission doomed to fail.

His statement read, “Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai appears to need some help, especially given his recent unfounded claims and speculations about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is increasingly evident that El-Rufai has recognised the futility of attempts by his associates in his new party to prevent President Tinubu’s likely re-election in 2027. This plot is proving to be unattainable, a mission doomed to fail.

Source: Channels