Former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu was marginalised within the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Akande claimed that he witnessed instances in which Tinubu was sidelined at party meetings despite his contributions to Buhari’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate in 2015.
“What did they not do against Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Tell me, what did they not do? Even between 2015 and 2023, the man was marginalised. I saw him with my korokoro eyes,” he said.
He added, “I sat in meetings where they put Bola Ahmed Tinubu behind me.”
Akande also alleged that some individuals reportedly nominated by Tinubu for ministerial positions during Buhari’s administration were rejected in favour of other candidates.
“Alake was nominated; Edun was nominated. They went to choose the ones that he did not nominate to just make a point that you can’t dictate for us,” he said.
He, however, did not provide further details about the nomination process or identify the officials allegedly responsible for the decisions. His claims could not be independently verified.
Akande said Tinubu remained in the APC despite the alleged treatment, maintained his political influence and waited for an opportunity to pursue his presidential ambition.
“He just waited. He bided his time,” Akande said.
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He also cited the controversy surrounding the naira redesign policy ahead of the 2023 general election as part of the political challenges Tinubu faced before succeeding Buhari.
Turning to the 2027 general election, Akande argued that opposition parties must strengthen their internal structures and learn to withstand political pressure from the ruling party rather than attribute their difficulties solely to government interference.
“I’m not saying it’s right, but this is how they have done it. So, if you are serious as opposition, you must be able to withstand it and rise to the top by doing what has become common sense,” he said.
Akande also urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to prioritise opposition unity over his personal presidential ambition, arguing that the former vice-president should be willing to make sacrifices to build a formidable alliance ahead of the 2027 polls.
“I think it is ego. So, the person that ought to make the move here is Atiku,” he said.
He suggested that Atiku should consider stepping aside from the presidential race if doing so would help unite opposition parties and provide a stronger challenge to the APC in 2027.
