Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has disowned Daniel Bwala, who worked as a spokesperson for his presidential campaign in last year’s election.
In a statement posted on Tuesday by his media office, Atiku stated that Bwala is not and has never been his aide, except for his activities as a spokesperson for his presidential campaign from 2022 to early 2023.
According to the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bwala’s duties in the presidential campaign ended when the election was held last year.
“It is important that the media and the general public take corrective note of defining Mr Daniel Bwala as an aide to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar.
“Bwala offered his services and support to the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation as a spokesperson, and it was a position he held during the last presidential campaign,” the statement read in part.
Atiku’s comments denying ties with Bwala come as the former PDP presidential campaign spokesperson and President Bola Tinubu’s relationship improved.
Bwala went from being an outspoken critic of presidential candidate Bola Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the campaign to become an advocate for his ideas after the former Lagos State governor was inaugurated as president.
His strong support for Tinubu on social media and national television gained him special meetings with the president both within and outside the country in January.
On January 11, he accepted an invitation to the Presidential Villa as the president’s guest.
Following the visit, the lawyer stated that he was determined to work for the president and would not apologise for doing so.
“In the last few days, I have been expressing my surprise and appreciation to the president for the decisions he is taking. So this is not about political parties. And you need to know that, like I said, I was with him before I left,” Mr. Bwala told journalists.
He also stated on TV later on that he informed Atiku of his plan to meet Tinubu and also updated him after returning from the Presidential Villa. According to Bwala, Atiku replied to his message, saying, “Thanks for notifying me.”
Later in January, he met with Tinubu in France, fueling rumours about his impending defection to the ruling APC.
Bwala’s reconciliation with Tinubu is a telling return to a relationship that only soured when Tinubu chose Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 presidential race in 2022.
Bwala backed Tinubu during the APC presidential primaries but withdrew his support due to the APC’s contentious Muslim/Muslim ticket.
He then resigned from the ruling party after Tinubu named Kashim Shettima, a Muslim and former governor of Borno State, as his running mate.
