The Presidency has dismissed allegations by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suggesting that President Bola Tinubu harbours plans to remain in power beyond his constitutional tenure. It said the President is committed to Nigeria’s democratic order and has no intention of staying a day longer than the law allows.
The clarification came on Sunday through Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, who described El-Rufai’s comments as “baseless and absurd.” The former governor had, during a visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the weekend, accused the Tinubu administration of centralizing power, undermining federalism, and laying the groundwork for a prolonged stay in office akin to that of Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982.
El-Rufai’s comments have stirred political debate, drawing reactions from Tinubu’s supporters and critics alike. The Presidency, however, maintains that such comparisons are not only false but also a deliberate attempt to discredit a government that continues to enjoy strong support across the country.

Presidency Counters “Life Presidency” Claim
According to Onanuga, El-Rufai’s assertion is less about democratic concerns and more about political frustration. He argued that the former governor has become increasingly alarmed by the continued goodwill President Tinubu enjoys in the North despite predictions that the region had abandoned him.
Onanuga referenced the grand reception Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday, which he said exposed the depth of Northern support and contradicted El-Rufai’s narrative. Rather than confront this reality, the Presidency argued, the former governor chose to “spread unfounded stories” about the President’s alleged authoritarian ambitions.
“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,” Onanuga stated, reiterating that the President is fully committed to constitutional term limits. He suggested that El-Rufai’s latest claims were part of a larger plot by him and his new political allies in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to derail Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, a plot he described as “doomed to fail.”

The statement also took a personal swipe at El-Rufai, saying that he “appears to need some help” and that Kaduna’s current governor, Uba Sani, might need to “reach out to his predecessor” to counsel him away from what the Presidency called “hallucinations and political fabrications.”
Rising Political Tensions Ahead of 2027
The exchange between El-Rufai and the Presidency is the latest in what observers see as growing tension ahead of the 2027 general election. El-Rufai, a key figure in the political coalition that helped Tinubu win the presidency in 2023, has become one of his most vocal critics. His comments over the weekend painted a picture of a government that is concentrating power at the centre and disregarding long-held calls for true federalism.
He warned that Nigeria risked sliding into a political crisis if power was not devolved to states and local governments, suggesting that the administration’s current trajectory represented “an evil of such a large proportion” that Nigerians must resist.
Political analysts note that such criticism, coming from a former ally, is significant and could resonate with some voters ahead of 2027. However, the Presidency is banking on its ongoing reforms, economic policies, and strong support base to secure a second term.
For now, the administration appears focused on projecting confidence, countering narratives of authoritarian drift, and reassuring Nigerians and the international community that Tinubu remains committed to democratic governance.
The sharp exchange underscores the deepening fault lines within Nigeria’s political class as the countdown to 2027 begins. While El-Rufai and his associates in the ADC intensify their campaign to unseat Tinubu, the Presidency’s response suggests it is ready to take on its critics head-on, framing their attacks as desperate moves from opponents who fear the president’s growing acceptance.

Whether this war of words will escalate into a full-scale political battle remains to be seen, but it sets the stage for a charged political season as Nigeria inches closer to another general election.
See also: Minimum wage, an issue in Ondo State
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