President Bola Tinubu has criticised former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over their political affiliations, questioning their leadership credentials ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu made the remarks on Friday during his visit to Akwa Ibom State, where he inaugurated projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration and addressed supporters at a political gathering.
Although he did not mention either politician by name, his comments appeared directed at Obi, who is now with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Atiku, who joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Referring to Obi’s tenure as Anambra governor, President Tinubu accused him of failing to address the state’s erosion challenges, contrasting this with his own claim of tackling the Atlantic Ocean surge during his time as Lagos governor.
“He ran away from erosion. In Anambra State, he could not confront erosion. I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean. I claim it for you. Umo Eno confronted the erosion in Akwa Ibom and is working,” the President said.
Tinubu also questioned Atiku’s political loyalty, apparently referring to his departure from the PDP and subsequent move to the ADC.
“If a man that was once upon a time a baby of PDP, became a father of PDP, and because of a little inconvenience, he ran away from that party and formed a dangerous ADC in another party. Is that a leadership trait? Is that a leadership character? And he wants you to vote for him?” Tinubu asked.
Obi governed Anambra State between 2006 and 2014, while Atiku served as Vice-President from 1999 to 2007 under the PDP.
Atiku contested the 2023 presidential election on the PDP platform, finishing second behind Tinubu, while Obi, who ran under the Labour Party, came third.
Obi left the Labour Party for the NDC in May 2026, while Atiku joined the ADC as part of opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tinubu’s comments on Anambra’s erosion problem also recalled his 2023 presidential campaign promise to tackle the menace. At a rally in Awka in February 2023, he had pledged to address gully erosion in the state, saying he would handle it in the same way he claimed to have tackled the Atlantic Ocean surge in Lagos.