I Don’t Need Validation From Political Opportunists, Atiku Bombs Bwala

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rebutted recent remarks and actions by Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson for the Atiku/Okowa 2023 Presidential Campaign Organisation, declaring that he does not need validation from “political opportunists.”

The statement comes after Bwala’s recent visits to President Bola Tinubu—both in Nigeria and abroad—where he expressed open support for the current administration.

Bwala, once a vocal critic of Tinubu, has since shifted his stance, praising the President’s leadership and asserting he has “no apologies” for aligning with him.

In response, Atiku’s media office released a statement disowning Bwala, stressing that he was never a personal aide but only served in a temporary campaign role.

“We wish to state categorically that Daniel Bwala was never a personal aide to the former Vice President. He served as a spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Organisation during the 2023 elections and that role ended with the campaign,” the statement read.

The former Vice President also hit back personally, saying, “I don’t need validation from political opportunists,” in an apparent reference to Bwala’s shifting allegiances.

He emphasized the importance of consistency and integrity in public service and politics.

Bwala, on his part, defended his new political alignment, stating that his decision is based on the performance and direction of the Tinubu administration, not partisan loyalty. He also claimed that he informed Atiku both before and after his meetings with President Tinubu.

However, Atiku’s camp appears unmoved, describing Bwala’s actions as self-serving and cautioning the media and public to stop referring to him as a former aide of the former Vice President.

This clash underscores the deepening realignments within Nigeria’s political landscape, where loyalty often intersects with shifting power dynamics and personal ambition.