The media aide to the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has said Nigerians will determine who becomes president in 2027, rather than traditional rulers or political campaign organisations.
Shaibu made the statement in reaction to the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for another term by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, who declared that there would be no vacancy in Aso Rock for the next four or five years.
Akiolu made the declaration on Monday when he received the Director-General of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, and members of his delegation at his palace in Lagos.
The monarch said, “One important thing that I know very well is that for the next four or five years, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.”
He also said, “Politicians don’t fight; they only disagree to agree later,” while urging politicians not to regard political disagreements as permanent hostility.
Reacting in a series of posts on his X handle, Shaibu said Akiolu was entitled to support his preferred candidate but could not make such an endorsement on behalf of Nigerians.
He said, “Kabiyesi, with due respect, Aso Rock is not an extension of your palace, and Nigeria’s presidency is not a royal stool for you to allocate.”
Shaibu added, “There will be a vacancy in 2027 because the Constitution says so.You may endorse Tinubu, but you cannot endorse him on behalf of over 200 million Nigerians. The people, and not kings, courtiers or APC campaign councils, will decide that through the ballot.
“Kabiyesi, democracy is not a coronation. You may have a preferred candidate, but you do not have the authority to declare Nigeria’s presidential election settled before Nigerians vote.”
The exchange comes ahead of the 2027 general election, with Atiku and other opposition figures increasingly stepping up criticism of the Tinubu administration.
Atiku has recently faulted the Federal Government over the removal of the fuel subsidy and also raised questions concerning Tinubu’s academic and National Youth Service Corps credentials.
On September 13, 2026, the former Vice President challenged Tinubu to account for funds saved from the removal of the fuel subsidy amid renewed threats of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Atiku argued that the possibility of another ASUU strike raised questions about the Federal Government’s justification for the subsidy removal, particularly as public universities continued to face funding challenges.
