Tinubu’s Legacy Will Outshine Opposition Alliances, Says Presidential Aide Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has declared that any alliance between opposition figures poses no real threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In a bold assertion during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, July 10, 2025, Onanuga stated that President Bola Tinubu’s achievements in office will be more than sufficient to secure reelection, dismissing any fears about a potential coalition between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.

Onanuga did not mince words. “They are free to form alliances, but as far as the APC is concerned, we are not seeing them as any threat,” he remarked, confidently waving off growing talks of opposition unity. “If you merge Peter Obi and Atiku together, there is no way the two of them can beat a Bola Tinubu and Shettima ticket. It is going to be impossible.”

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Alliances in Opposition: No Cause for APC Alarm

Onanuga’s comments come in response to speculations that Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar—two of the major contenders in the 2023 presidential race—may be exploring the possibility of a joint political front to challenge President Tinubu in the next cycle. While this development has sparked excitement among some opposition supporters, the APC appears undisturbed.

“They are jumping the gun; it is not yet time for politicking,” Onanuga added, implying that the premature campaign signals weakness rather than strength. According to him, the administration’s focus remains firmly on delivering on its mandate and building on the accomplishments already recorded since Tinubu took office in 2023.

Onanuga’s tone reflects a growing confidence in the APC camp, buoyed by Tinubu’s economic and infrastructural policies, security reforms, and diplomatic engagements, which they believe will resonate with voters when the time comes. The administration, he suggests, is relying on performance, not rhetoric.

Tinubu’s 2015 Legacy and Political Clout

In a related development, Onanuga took to his official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account on the same day to underscore President Tinubu’s political significance in Nigeria’s modern democracy, particularly highlighting his pivotal role in the historic 2015 elections that saw the fall of an incumbent president for the first time in Nigeria’s history.

According to Onanuga, any discourse on Tinubu’s political influence must begin with his strategic maneuvers that led to Muhammadu Buhari’s victory over then-President Goodluck Jonathan. He asserted that Tinubu’s ability to marshal the South-West in favor of the APC ticket gave Buhari the regional balance he had previously lacked.

“Tinubu ensured that Buhari clinched the APC presidential ticket by overcoming strong challengers like Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso,” Onanuga tweeted. “But more critically, he gave Buhari what he had always lacked—geographical spread and additional votes from the South-West.”

The former Lagos State governor’s influence in delivering crucial votes and uniting various political blocs in 2015 is now being used by the presidency to rebut any suggestion that his political standing is weakening. Onanuga further noted that Buhari had always enjoyed robust support in the North, consistently polling around 12 million votes in past elections, but it was Tinubu’s entry into the alliance that finally secured victory.

Revisiting 2023 and the Road Ahead

The 2023 presidential election, which brought Tinubu to power, was arguably one of the most competitive in Nigeria’s history. His opponents, Atiku and Obi, collectively drew millions of votes, sparking speculation about what might have happened if the two had combined forces.

Analysts suggest that the arithmetic of a united opposition is attractive but not necessarily decisive. Regional loyalty, party structures, campaign financing, and national reach remain crucial determinants of electoral success. Onanuga’s statements seek to highlight these nuances and deflate the assumption that a simple merger would unseat a sitting president with a strong performance record.

The APC, for its part, is banking on continuity and incumbency to secure a second term for Tinubu. With over two years still left in his first term, the administration believes that sustained delivery of campaign promises, especially in areas like economic recovery, youth empowerment, infrastructure development, and security reform, will give them the political capital needed to face any opposition.

Meanwhile, observers caution that dismissing the opposition too early may be premature. Political dynamics in Nigeria are fluid, and alliances can gain strength quickly under the right conditions. However, for now, the APC’s confidence remains unshaken.

Onanuga’s message to opposition leaders is clear: alliances without substance or strategy are no match for a sitting president with a proven track record and a loyal political base. As the 2027 race looms on the horizon, Nigeria’s political gladiators are sharpening their swords—but for the APC, the real weapon is Tinubu’s legacy.