Presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga has dismissed the recent defection of several former APC chieftains to the opposition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), branding them “desperados” and accusing them of chasing power for selfish reasons.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Onanuga said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not mourn the departure of individuals who, according to him, had long abandoned the party in spirit and in action.
“Some members of the hijacked ADC, reported as APC defectors, left the party years ago,” he declared. “Rotimi Amaechi’s soul departed in 2022 after he lost the presidential primary. Malami has been estranged from the party since Tinubu emerged and lost his Kebbi ambition. Aregbesola was expelled for anti-party acts in Osun, and Hadi Sirika is battling serious corruption charges.”
He also took aim at elder statesmen in the opposition coalition, including Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Kashim Imam, labelling them as “disgruntled politicians” with no unifying vision except a shared resentment towards President Tinubu.
Onanuga warned Nigerians not to be swayed by what he called a misleading opposition narrative. “This is a coalition with no ideology, no policy vision—only hatred for President Tinubu,” he said. “It’s a group of power-hungry desperados who can’t survive another four years in political obscurity.”
He predicted the opposition bloc would eventually crumble under the weight of its members’ conflicting personal ambitions.
The comments come amid a growing realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ADC now positioning itself as a new rallying point for anti-Tinubu elements.
