Politics
Dabiri-Erewa Warns Obidients Could Hurt Peter Obi’s 2027 Ambition
Dabiri-Erewa Warns Obidients Could Hurt Peter Obi’s 2027 Ambition
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has sparked widespread reactions after criticising supporters of Peter Obi, describing some of them as “monsters” and warning that their conduct could undermine his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The controversy followed a post shared by Dabiri-Erewa on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, where she highlighted her recent visit to Silicon Valley in California, United States. During the visit, she met with Nigerian professionals in the tech industry and experienced a ride in a driverless car, which she described as impressive and forward-looking.
In the post, she expressed appreciation to Nigerian architect and designer Kunle Adeyemo for hosting her during the tour. However, the update quickly drew backlash from some social media users who criticised her for praising technological advancement abroad while, in their view, supporting political structures at home that do not reflect similar progress.
Some of the reactions were sharply critical and, in certain instances, abusive, with users accusing her of hypocrisy and questioning her political stance. The exchange quickly escalated into a heated online debate.
In response, Dabiri-Erewa defended her position and took aim at a segment of Obi’s supporters, popularly known as the Obidient movement, accusing them of engaging in toxic and aggressive online behaviour.
She wrote that Obi had “raised monsters” and warned that if such behaviour continued unchecked, it could ultimately harm his chances in future political contests, particularly the 2027 presidential race.
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Dabiri-Erewa further suggested that the same supporters could become a liability to Obi, even if political power eventually rotates to the South-East region, where Obi hails from.
Doubling down in subsequent posts, she reiterated that the conduct of some supporters reflects poorly on the former Labour Party presidential candidate and stressed the need for him to call them to order.
She also rejected criticism that her status as a public official should prevent her from engaging online critics, insisting that her social media account is personal and that she has the right to respond to attacks directed at her.
The remarks have since generated mixed reactions across Nigeria’s political space, with critics of Obi aligning with Dabiri-Erewa’s position, while his supporters argue that her comments are unfair and politically motivated.
Supporters of Obi maintain that the Obidient movement is largely grassroots-driven and issue-focused, adding that online excesses by a few individuals should not define the broader movement.
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi has not issued an official response to the NiDCOM chair’s remarks.
Political analysts say the episode highlights the growing influence—and risks—of digital political movements and online activism in Nigeria, especially as the country gradually shifts toward the 2027 election cycle.
Dabiri-Erewa Warns Obidients Could Hurt Peter Obi’s 2027 Ambition
Politics
Bashir El-Rufai Vows Never to Forgive APC, Threatens to ‘Terrorise’ Party Over Family Ordeal
Bashir El-Rufai Vows Never to Forgive APC, Threatens to ‘Terrorise’ Party Over Family Ordeal
KADUNA, Nigeria – Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has declared he will never forgive the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what he described as attacks on his family during its most vulnerable period, vowing to acquire political power specifically to “terrorise” members of the ruling party. In a series of incendiary posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Bashir declared that even if his father emerged from his ongoing legal ordeal and chose to forgive his perceived adversaries, his personal resolve would remain unchanged. “Even if my father emerges from his ordeal like Gandhi and forgives and forgets, I won’t,” Bashir wrote. He added: “I will acquire power somehow for the sole reason of terrorising those (APC) that attacked like wolves upon my family at our weakest. Friend or foe, it won’t matter”. Bashir, however, made a notable exception in his tirade, singling out Mahmud Ribadu as the only person who would be spared from his intended retribution. “Caveat: Only @mahmudribadu will be spared. That one is my biological brother. Everyone else is fair game,” he stated.
The explosive outburst comes amid an escalating family dispute between Bashir and his elder brother, Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency. On Friday, Bashir launched a scathing social media attack on Bello, accusing him of substance abuse, hypocrisy, and betraying the family over the political rift between their father and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. Bashir used deeply personal and expletive-laden language, making allegations about Bello’s fertility and accusing him of drug use. In one post, Bashir wrote: “I have a useless excuse for a brother, with his bony-ass face coated with an unknown white substance around his nostrils every night. That is your Member of the House of Representatives, representing a whole constituency, but he prefers alcohol and cocaine.” In response to an X user who questioned the public nature of the dispute, Bashir also disclosed that he keeps “guns and knives at my bedside.”
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The dispute is rooted in the broader political fallout between Nasir El-Rufai and Governor Uba Sani, his former political protégé. Tensions flared after Sani revealed that his administration inherited a massive debt profile of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from El-Rufai’s tenure, claims that deepened the political divide. While Bashir consistently criticised Governor Sani online, Bello initially remained loyal to Sani, maintaining his support for the governor. However, Bello subsequently defected from the APC to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in May 2026, joining his father, who had left the APC in March 2025. Bashir accused Bello of only returning to the family’s political fold after realising he was being sidelined by Sani, describing the move as self-serving and hypocritical. “He was stuck with Uba Sani until he realised he was being dumped, then suddenly remembered family loyalty and moved to ADC. Where was he before then? Purely serving his own interest,” Bashir wrote.
The El-Rufai family has faced intense scrutiny following Nasir El-Rufai’s prolonged detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The former governor, who governed Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023, has been in custody for approximately 200 days over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and fraud during his tenure. In April 2026, he was arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court on an amended nine-count charge filed by the ICPC. He is also facing separate charges relating to alleged wiretapping, brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a related development, Nasir El-Rufai has filed a N10 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the ICPC, its Chairman, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, alleging that the anti-graft agency denied his wife and son access to him during his detention. He alleged that officials of the Commission physically restrained and intimidated both his wife and son when they attempted to see him on July 7, 2026. The former governor is seeking an order compelling the respondents to grant him unhindered and reasonable access to his family members and legal representatives throughout the period of his detention.
The public clash between the El-Rufai brothers highlights fractures within one of northern Nigeria’s most prominent political families and underscores the deepening political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections. While Bello remains a member of the House of Representatives, his move to the ADC signals the consolidation of the El-Rufai political camp under an opposition platform. Observers note that the outcome of Nasir El-Rufai’s legal challenges and the brothers’ ability to reconcile may shape the family’s future political influence in Kaduna and beyond.
Bashir El-Rufai Vows Never to Forgive APC, Threatens to ‘Terrorise’ Party Over Family Ordeal
Politics
2027: Atiku Pledges $100bn Start-up Fund, Slams Tinubu Over Cost-of-Living Crisis
2027: Atiku Pledges $100bn Start-up Fund, Slams Tinubu Over Cost-of-Living Crisis
ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has taken another swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the worsening cost-of-living crisis, promising to restore purchasing power and provide $100 billion in financing for start-ups and entrepreneurs** if elected president in 2027. Atiku said Nigeria’s young population does not need a government that teaches them how to survive hardship but one that creates the conditions for them to prosper. The former Vice President said the economic crisis under the present administration had stripped millions of Nigerians of purchasing power, weakened small businesses, and made it increasingly difficult for young people to secure jobs, access capital and achieve economic independence. “My commitment is to change that,” Atiku said in a statement following a meeting with a nationwide delegation of **N-Power beneficiaries** who declared their support for his presidential candidacy. According to him, his administration would restore purchasing power, reduce the cost of living, and deliberately expand economic opportunities for young Nigerians. This would include a **$100 billion financing programme targeted at start-ups and entrepreneurs.
“Our objective is simple: move young Nigerians from dependence to enterprise, from unemployment to productivity, and from palliatives to prosperity,” he said. Atiku argued that the current economic situation required a fundamental change in policy direction, contending that Nigeria could not build a sustainable future by merely distributing palliatives to citizens struggling with rising living costs. “I thanked them for their confidence and reiterated that Nigeria cannot build its future by distributing poverty. We must build an economy that creates jobs, rewards enterprise and gives every young Nigerian a fair chance to succeed,” he said. The ADC candidate emphasised that the 2027 election would offer Nigerians a choice between maintaining an economy that limits opportunities and building one capable of restoring purchasing power, dignity, and prosperity. “We will make Nigeria affordable again,” Atiku declared.
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The endorsement from N-Power beneficiaries came after nearly three days of consultations and stakeholder engagements in Abuja. The group cited years of hardship and unpaid stipends under the Federal Government’s social intervention programme as reasons for withdrawing support for President Tinubu and backing Atiku’s candidacy. According to the beneficiaries, their decision was influenced by what they described as the Federal Government’s reluctance to listen to their concerns, particularly their complaints over outstanding N-Power stipends. The group alleged that years of delayed or unpaid stipends had subjected many participants to prolonged financial hardship, despite the programme being introduced to provide young Nigerians with employment opportunities, skills and financial support. The beneficiaries called on their members and other Nigerians to support Atiku’s candidacy, expressing hope that his emergence would bring renewed attention to youth empowerment, job creation and social intervention programmes.
The former Vice President has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and the government’s approach to managing Nigeria’s borders. Atiku had argued a few days ago that the abrupt removal of petrol subsidy contributed significantly to the rise in transportation costs, food prices, and the general cost of living. He proposed a different approach to petrol subsidy, insisting that the government should have maintained it temporarily while putting in place measures to cushion its removal and prevent a severe shock to households and businesses. The ADC candidate also linked Nigeria’s economic difficulties to the closure of the country’s land borders, arguing that restrictions on cross-border trade had compounded hardship for Nigerians who depend on affordable imported goods and regional commerce. However, the government mocked Atiku over the subsidy restoration policy and border closure statement, stating the borders were not closed. Atiku, however, insisted that policies which restrict trade without providing adequate domestic alternatives can drive up prices and reduce the purchasing power of citizens. His position contrasts with the Tinubu administration’s decision to remove petrol subsidy as part of its broader economic reforms, which the government has defended as necessary to eliminate costly distortions, free resources for development and place the economy on a more sustainable footing. The government has also maintained that its reforms are intended to attract investment, increase production and create jobs in the long term, despite the immediate economic pains acknowledged by the administration.
The fuel subsidy war between President Tinubu and Atiku has intensified, with the Presidency accusing the former Vice President of offering Nigerians conflicting explanations of his subsidy policy. The latest round began when Atiku’s spokespersons gave differing accounts of his subsidy position, with one saying he would restore it and phase it out, while another insisted he would retain it until domestic refining capacity improved. Atiku personally intervened, declaring that his position had not changed and that he would restore what he called a targeted subsidy, adding that Nigeria was rich enough to look after its own people. According to Atiku’s camp, the proposal is not a return to the open-ended import racket he once called a fraud, but a capped, audited production subsidy, preferential crude for qualifying Nigerian refineries, and support that follows the barrel rather than the middleman. Reacting, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the sequence as Atiku’s third U-turn in one week and accused him of playing politics with Nigerians’ hardship rather than proposing serious economic policy. Onanuga also disputed the claim that petrol prices alone were driving food inflation, citing insecurity, exchange rates, logistics, storage, flooding, and input costs as other factors, and challenged Atiku to state the cost and financing plan behind his proposed targeted subsidy. Atiku’s camp, however, hit back, arguing that the administration had triggered simultaneous fuel-price, exchange-rate and cost-of-living shocks, leaving millions of Nigerians poorer. Shaibu described it as “economic arson followed by propaganda about the ashes.”
The policy debate has been described by some commentators as a rare moment in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, where elections have typically been fought over zoning, godfathers, and ethnic arguments rather than substantive policy. Atiku’s change of heart on subsidy has forced the political class to debate an actual policy issue, marking what some see as progress in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. Atiku has also questioned the administration’s claim that subsidy had been completely eliminated, citing what he described as approximately ₦17.5 trillion in energy-security costs and petroleum under-recoveries in NNPC’s audited accounts. He asked why under-recoveries remained if subsidy had been abolished and questioned whether the reform had eliminated the opacity associated with petroleum-sector costs. The former Vice President further challenged the government to explain how more than ₦600 billion was spent under its cash transfer programme, citing conflicting figures released by government officials on the number of households that benefited. He demanded verified household records, payment tranches, state-by-state distribution, failed transactions, reversals and an independent audit to prove cash reached beneficiaries.
2027: Atiku Pledges $100bn Start-up Fund, Slams Tinubu Over Cost-of-Living Crisis
Politics
‘Tinubu is a lion with horns’ — Donald Duke warns opposition ahead of 2027
‘Tinubu is a lion with horns’ — Donald Duke warns opposition ahead of 2027
Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate Donald Duke has urged Nigeria’s opposition parties to put aside personal ambitions and unite ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that President Bola Tinubu is too experienced and politically formidable to be underestimated.
Duke, a former Cross River State governor, said opposition parties would struggle to defeat the incumbent if they continue to pursue separate interests rather than building a coordinated political alliance.
He made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni, where he discussed the prospects of the opposition and the challenges of confronting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.
Duke argued that opposition politicians must first recognise the structural advantage that comes with occupying the presidency.
According to him, the incumbent has access to government institutions and machinery that gives the ruling party a significant advantage during elections.
“Even if the APC did nothing, they’re the party in power. If there’s a problem on that day, the IG of Police will not go to any of the contestants. He’ll go to the president.
“So everything is skewed in favour of the incumbent. Respect that,” Duke said.
The PRP candidate said opposition politicians must therefore work together if they hope to mount a serious challenge against Tinubu.
He warned that allowing individual presidential ambitions and political differences to dominate the opposition camp could result in the votes of anti-APC supporters being divided among several candidates.
“The only way you can seriously tackle the incumbent is to come together and have the force. Otherwise, you’ll be factionalised,” he said.
Duke also blamed what he described as political ego for some of the divisions within the opposition.
He argued that opposition politicians could end up undermining themselves by refusing to make the compromises necessary to build a common political platform.
“So when you talk of rigging, I think we are rigging it against ourselves because of our ego. We need to come together,” he said.
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The former governor also issued a warning against underestimating Tinubu’s political experience and ability to navigate Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
“Bola Tinubu is not an average politician. You don’t go to fight a lion who also has horns,” Duke said.
Explaining the analogy, he argued that an already powerful political opponent would become even more difficult to defeat if the opposition approached the contest without adequate preparation and unity.
“Can you imagine a lion with a horn? It’s already a dangerous animal. Then you now give it a horn and you say go and fight it with knife and fork. You’ll be the dinner. So, let’s get real,” he added.
Duke’s comments come amid growing efforts by opposition politicians and parties to explore the possibility of forming a coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Several prominent opposition figures have held consultations over a possible alliance to challenge the APC and present a stronger alternative to Tinubu.
Among those associated with the wider opposition realignment are former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other political leaders.
The proposed coalition has generated significant political debate, with supporters arguing that a united opposition would have a better chance of challenging the APC than multiple parties contesting independently.
However, the coalition effort faces challenges, particularly over leadership, presidential ambitions, party structures and the choice of a consensus candidate.
The competing interests among opposition politicians could make it difficult to persuade major contenders to withdraw their individual ambitions and support a single presidential candidate.
Duke’s own political position also places him within the opposition’s presidential contest. He is the PRP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election and has continued to advocate a broader alliance among opposition forces.
His call for unity therefore comes at a time when opposition parties are weighing whether individual candidates should maintain separate campaigns or work towards a common platform.
The former Cross River governor, who served from 1999 to 2007, believes the opposition must be realistic about the strength of the incumbent and the advantages associated with controlling the federal government.
His argument is that defeating an incumbent president requires more than criticism of the ruling party. Opposition parties, he said, must build an effective political structure capable of competing across the country.
The debate over opposition unity is expected to intensify as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
For the opposition, the central challenge will be whether competing political interests can be reconciled early enough to create a credible coalition and prevent the fragmentation of votes among multiple candidates.
Duke’s latest warning adds to the growing calls for opposition politicians to prioritise a collective strategy over individual ambitions if they are serious about mounting a strong challenge to Tinubu in 2027.
‘Tinubu is a lion with horns’ — Donald Duke warns opposition ahead of 2027
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