In a striking public statement, Aliyu Audu, former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced his intention to actively oppose the president’s re-election campaign in 2027. Audu’s declaration follows his recent resignation and a candid interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he expressed deep frustration over his treatment during nearly two years of service in the presidency.
Despite holding a key communications role, Audu revealed that he never had a one-on-one meeting with President Tinubu throughout his tenure. “I worked for the President for nearly two years. I didn’t have a sit-down with him,” Audu stated. “I’m one of his spokespersons, but he sat with Davido, who insulted him a couple of weeks before. Then he sat with that Jandor, who didn’t even come second in the Lagos election. It doesn’t make sense.”
Audu’s comments come in the wake of high-profile meetings between President Tinubu and Nigerian music star David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido), as well as Lagos politician Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor). Both figures had previously been critical of the president or affiliated with opposition parties.
The former aide emphasized that his decision to oppose Tinubu’s re-election is not rooted in personal bitterness but in a broader concern about recognition, loyalty, and internal communication within the administration. “It is a slap in the face of those of us who gave everything and never even got an audience.”
Audu, who also leads the APC Rebirth Movement, signaled that his political activism will now focus on advocating for transparency, inclusion, and accountability in governance.