The Presidency has dismissed claims by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that President Bola Tinubu plans to extend his stay in office beyond his constitutional tenure.
In a statement on Sunday, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the allegations as “baseless and absurd.”
El-Rufai had, during a solidarity visit from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the weekend, accused the Tinubu administration of centralizing authority and veering toward authoritarianism. He compared the president to Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has remained in power since 1982, warning that Tinubu could attempt the same if not stopped by 2027.
The former Kaduna governor further described the administration as a disgrace to democratic principles, insisting that Nigerians must unite to prevent Tinubu from turning into a lifelong leader. He alleged that the government is undermining federalism by concentrating power at the center.
In his reaction, Onanuga dismissed the claims as “unfounded,” arguing that they reveal El-Rufai’s frustration over the failure of his new political base, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to gain traction ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the allegations were part of a broader plot to weaken Tinubu’s chances but insisted the plan was already collapsing.
“After reports of the grand reception President Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday, El-Rufai was clearly surprised by the depth of support the President continues to enjoy in the North. This stands in stark contrast to his narrative that the region has abandoned the President,” Onanuga stated.
He further clarified that Tinubu remains committed to democracy and has no intention of overstaying his mandate. “President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,” Onanuga stressed, adding that El-Rufai may need “professional counselling” to desist from spreading falsehoods.
