The political atmosphere is heating up once again as Paul Ibeh, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has slammed the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a “civilian dictatorship.”
Speaking during a live appearance on The Morning Brief aired Wednesday on Channels Television, Ibeh didn’t mince words. “What we’re seeing today is no different from the military rule we had in 1996 — perhaps even worse. The only difference is they now wear agbada and suits,” he said, in a pointed jab at the ruling class.
According to Ibeh, the state of the country under Tinubu has become so concerning that opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar are being called upon once again to “redeem Nigeria.” He emphasized that the democratic values Nigeria fought for are gradually being eroded by a government that, in his view, governs without transparency or accountability.
The remarks follow a high-level meeting of PDP leaders in Abuja on Tuesday, where Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and others gathered behind closed doors to discuss the future of both the party and the nation. In a communiqué released afterward, they urged Nigerians to unite under a broad coalition that promotes national unity, economic recovery, and democratic integrity — with a clear goal of removing Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Interestingly, Ibeh brushed aside internal criticisms that blamed Atiku for the PDP’s disunity. He defended the former VP, saying that it was actually Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who undermined the PDP after losing the party’s presidential ticket in an open primary.
“He lost the primary fair and square to Atiku, but instead of building the party, he worked against it during the elections,” Ibeh said, accusing Wike of frustrating every peace effort that could have healed the party’s internal crisis.
When asked about whether Atiku could become the face of the coalition in 2027, Ibeh said the movement was not about individual ambition but about experience, strategy, and national rescue. “The coalition stands to gain from Atiku’s experience, but it’s not about who gets what ticket right now.”
As political alignments begin to shift and conversations around 2027 quietly gain momentum, it’s becoming clearer that Nigeria’s political elite are already positioning for what might be another fiercely contested election — one that could be shaped by citizen frustration, economic hardship, and calls for systemic change.
For many Nigerians watching from the sidelines, the battle lines are being drawn once again — and the stakes may be higher than ever.
