SHAIBU: ECONOMIC HARDSHIP WILL DELIVER ATIKU THE PRESIDENCY IN 2027

Phrank Shaibu, a communication aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has predicted that the 2027 presidential election will be the easiest for his principal, arguing that Nigerians struggling with economic hardship will vote for him.

Shaibu made the prediction during an interview on the Mic On Podcast, responding to a question about how Atiku could improve on his performance in the 2023 presidential election, when he secured 29 per cent of the votes against President Bola Tinubu’s incumbency and political structure.

“The pathway is simple, and this one, it’s going to be one of the easiest elections for Atiku Abubakar,” Shaibu said.

THE HUNGER ARGUMENT

Shaibu’s central argument is that economic pain, not political structure, will determine the 2027 outcome. “Hungry Nigerians, impoverished Nigerians, who are excited that life will be affordable again, will vote Atiku massively come January 16,” he said.

He insisted that Atiku’s expected votes would come from Nigerians who believe the current administration has failed to improve their living conditions.

THE ATTACK ON TINUBU

Shaibu did not limit his criticism to policy. He claimed that Tinubu and those closest to him were privately aware of the administration’s shortcomings.

“Tinubu is aware himself that he has failed. His wife is aware that he has failed. His son is aware that he has failed. His ministers are aware that he has failed,” he said.

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The statement is a sharp escalation in the rhetoric between the Atiku camp and the presidency, framing the 2027 contest not as a political battle but as a verdict on governance.

THE CONTEXT

Atiku Abubakar has contested the Nigerian presidency six times. In 2023, he came second to Tinubu, securing 29 per cent of the vote. His supporters have long argued that the election was manipulated.

The 2027 election is scheduled for January 16, according to Shaibu’s reference.Shaibu’s comments align with a broader opposition strategy: frame the election as a referendum on economic hardship rather than a contest of political structures.

Whether that strategy succeeds depends on whether voters blame the Tinubu administration for their economic circumstances, or whether the opposition can present a credible alternative. ValidViewNetwork reports that Shaibu made the remarks on the Mic On Podcast.