Atiku Slams Tinubu Over ADC Jabs, Says President is Deflecting from Failed Leadership and Economic Crisis

A fresh wave of political tension has erupted in Nigeria's power circles, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his remarks against opposition parties. Atiku, a key figure in the coalition of opposition forces, accused the President of shifting focus away from pressing national issues by continually meddling in the affairs of rival political entities.

At the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, Tinubu took a swipe at opposition parties. He urged governors aligned with those parties to abandon what he described as “a coalition of confusion” and instead join the APC, which he framed as a more stable political ship. According to Tinubu, there is no wisdom in staying loyal to a sinking vessel when another option promises direction and purpose.

Those remarks did not sit well with Atiku Abubakar, who fired back through a statement released by his media team. The former Vice President accused the President of deliberately attacking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other coalition members as a way of masking his inability to tackle the real problems plaguing the country. Atiku described Tinubu’s comments as a deflection strategy by a leader overwhelmed by internal dysfunction and mounting public dissatisfaction.

Rather than focusing on political theatrics, Atiku urged Tinubu to direct his energy toward repairing Nigeria’s “broken economy” and navigating his “troubled government” out of chaos. He pointed out that the President’s administration has become synonymous with rising insecurity, deepening hunger, and soaring poverty rates, yet there is no sign of meaningful intervention or reform.

Atiku also alluded to an alleged rift between Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it evidence that all is not well within the APC itself. According to him, rather than poking into opposition arrangements, Tinubu should first resolve the divisions in his own camp.

A particularly strong accusation came when Atiku claimed that the Tinubu administration has been actively fueling internal strife within opposition parties. He alleged that state resources are being misused to sponsor factions, create disunity, and weaken viable alternatives to the ruling party. In his view, these underhand tactics are part of a broader effort to dismantle the emerging coalition that threatens the APC’s hold on power.

“The reported tension between my supporters and those of Peter Obi is nothing but a well-orchestrated plan by elements within the presidency,” the statement read. “They tried to break the unity we are building, but their plan has collapsed. The coalition is not only intact, it is now stronger.”

The former Vice President did not hold back in his evaluation of Tinubu’s administration, which he described as incompetent, rudderless, and tone-deaf to the realities on the ground. He criticized the President for what he sees as premature political ambition, noting that despite having done little with his current mandate, Tinubu appears more concerned with the 2027 elections than with governance.

According to Atiku, rather than delivering on campaign promises or addressing the suffering of ordinary Nigerians, the President has chosen to weaponize key state institutions. He accused Tinubu of turning anti-corruption agencies into political tools used to intimidate and blackmail opposition leaders into switching allegiance to the APC.

“Let Nigerians be clear about what is going on. Tinubu is not attacking the coalition because it is chaotic, but because he knows it is the only force that can unseat him. He fears it deeply,” Atiku stated, adding that the coalition is on a mission to rescue Nigeria from what he termed “the misrule and misdirection” of the current government.

While political rhetoric between opposing camps is nothing new in Nigeria’s high-stakes political arena, the intensity of Atiku’s latest criticism signals a rising pressure on the presidency. The opposition, which had earlier been marked by internal disagreements and fragmentation, now claims to be more unified and determined.

The timing of this war of words also comes as ordinary Nigerians face one of the harshest economic periods in recent history. The national currency continues to slide, inflation is rampant, and public frustration is increasingly evident in streets and marketplaces across the country.

As the dust settles on Tinubu’s remarks and Atiku’s rebuttal, one thing remains clear: the battle lines for 2027 may already be forming, but the cries of a struggling populace still echo louder than any political slogan. Whether the government shifts focus to address these challenges or continues to spar with opposition figures may determine the course of the months ahead.