Does Tinubu Intend to Stay in Office Beyond 2031? Presidential Spokesman Speaks Out
- The Nigerian presidency has accused former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of "hallucinations and political fabrications"
- The presidency said El-Rufai has been recently making "unfounded claims and speculations" about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
- Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser information and strategy to Tinubu, projected victory for his principal in the 2027 election, adding that he will leave office in 2031
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, election, and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - Bayo Onanuga, a presidential spokesperson, has berated former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai over the opposition leader's latest criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
Legit.ng had reported how El-Rufai declared that the Tinubu administration is worse than any military regime Nigeria has ever had, adding that the Nigerian leader intends to become a “life president”.
Source: Getty Images
Speaking during a recent meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai said:
“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.”
Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been serving as the second president of Cameroon since 1982. As of 2025, he is the second-longest-ruling president in Africa (after Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Equatorial Guinea), the longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the world, and the current oldest head of state in the world.
Tinubu's aide slams El-Rufai
But reacting to El-Rufai allegation of Tinubu not being a true democrat, Onanuga asserted that the mission of the opposition coalition to defeat the incumbent Nigerian leader in the 2027 election is "doomed to fail."
Onanuga wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday night, September 21:
"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: Twitter
He continued:
"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.
"In response, he resorted to spreading further unfounded stories, including the claim that President Tinubu intends to become a “life president” after 2027—a speculation that is baseless and absurd."
Onanuga concluded:
"President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027."
Read more on Nasir El-Rufai:
- Catholic church narrates what happened during protest against El-Rufai’s visit in Imo
- Kaduna Gov Uba Sani’s 2022 statement calling El-Rufai his ‘mentor’ resurfaces amid fallout
- Reno Omokri shares El-Rufai’s old video after his visit to Imo church, “Christians won’t vote for me”
El-Rufai's son speaks on 2027 elections
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Bashir El-Rufai, son of Nasir El-Rufai, said Peter Obi as a presidential flagbearer "with a strong northern candidate" would defeat President Tinubu in the 2027 election.
In a social post, El-Rufai acknowledged Atiku and Obi's political strengths.
Source: Legit.ng
