ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has reportedly expressed displeasure with some of his close associates over alleged attempts to advance their political ambitions in ways that could damage the image of his administration, according to a report by ThisDay.
The newspaper, citing sources within the Presidential Villa, reported that the President was concerned that the desperation of some public officials to secure political power was undermining his government’s reputation, particularly amid controversies surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates for the forthcoming elections.
According to the report, people familiar with the development said Tinubu remained committed to leaving a legacy of free and fair elections, despite allegations by political opponents that he was determined to retain power through questionable means.
One of the sources claimed that the President believed his performance in office would earn him a second term without the need for electoral manipulation.
The report said some associates had alerted Tinubu to what they described as an anomaly in INEC’s latest candidates’ list, accusing Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, who represents Ogun West in the National Assembly, and some other political figures of pursuing what they termed a “defeatist strategy.”
A top All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain quoted in the report said those who brought the matter to the President’s attention were concerned about protecting his political legacy.
“Those who alerted the president are people who have the true interest of our president at heart, not those that are doing everything to inherit his structure while he is still alive,” the source said.
The source added that Tinubu would not allow political manoeuvres by his associates to undermine his administration’s reputation.
“We won’t allow anything to stain the legacy we are trying to leave for Nigerians. In Osun, the president proved to Nigerians that he is a man of his words; that he is committed to free and fair elections no matter who is on the receiving end. So he won’t allow the electoral umpire to be deliberately portrayed as biased ahead of the elections,” the source said.
The APC chieftain also claimed that the President had convened an emergency meeting of his inner caucus to address the controversy and protect what the source described as his democratic legacy.
The report further identified First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as one of those allegedly working to resolve the issues within the Presidency.
“There are things I shouldn’t tell you here. But I can tell you for a fact that the president has expressed his strong dissatisfaction and things will be corrected. No one should continue to drop his name to advance their selfish ambitions. Baba is a true democrat. His performance in office will win the forthcoming election for him,” the source added.
APC cracks over candidates’ exclusion
Another presidential source reportedly disclosed that divisions within the APC had emerged over the controversy, adding that Tinubu was attempting to address the disagreements before the forthcoming elections.
“We will deliver Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming election, no matter what the opposition does. But everyone should carry their cross and not paint the president black,” the source said.
The source added that some party members had allegedly celebrated the anticipated removal of certain names from INEC’s list before the commission formally published its final candidates’ list.
“We would have allowed this to slide and not tell the president to call them to order. But a situation where our party members would be celebrating that they would remove names from the INEC list even before it actually happened was a reckless one,” the source said.
The allegations, based on accounts from unnamed sources, have not been independently established in the report.
Adeola’s candidacy controversy
Senator Adeola has faced an identity and character controversy since declaring his ambition to contest the Ogun State governorship election, an issue he reportedly addressed during a meeting with journalists in Lagos.
The controversy has also featured in political exchanges involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, whose governorship candidate is Ladi Adebutu, son of billionaire businessman Sir Kensington Adebutu.
On Saturday, Adeola’s name and that of his running mate were reportedly missing from INEC’s final list of candidates. The name of Isa Ali Pantami, a PDP candidate in Gombe State, was also reportedly excluded.
The affected candidates have questioned their exclusion and appealed to their supporters to remain calm.
The controversy has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the omissions and their implications for the affected candidates and the parties involved.
Tinubu’s alleged intervention, as reported by ThisDay, comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the forthcoming elections and renewed scrutiny of INEC’s handling of candidate nominations and eligibility disputes.
