The Presidency on Monday dismissed claims linking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the internal challenges facing opposition figures, insisting that the political difficulties of Peter Obi are “self-inflicted.”

In a statement posted on X, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, criticised Obi’s political decisions, accusing him of failing to build and sustain a viable political structure after contesting the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.

Onanuga said it was wrong for opposition figures to make Tinubu a “whipping boy” for challenges unrelated to his administration, stressing that the President had no involvement in the internal issues of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where Obi is reportedly aligning.

According to the presidential aide, Obi failed to demonstrate leadership in resolving disputes within the Labour Party after benefiting from its platform to contest the presidency. He described Obi’s exit from the party as a “use-and-dump” approach, arguing that the former Anambra governor did not take steps to stabilise the party or transform his support base into a formal political structure.

Onanuga further claimed that Obi’s reliance on his supporters, often referred to as the “Obidient movement,” had not translated into the creation of a functional political party capable of competing effectively at the national level.

He also alleged that Obi’s move toward the ADC was part of a broader attempt to secure an existing political platform ahead of future elections, rather than building one organically.

The ADC, he said, is currently grappling with internal challenges, which he described as the result of inadequate groundwork by its new stakeholders.

The presidential spokesman maintained that the crisis within the ADC has no connection to Tinubu, insisting that opposition figures must take responsibility for their political strategies and organisational issues.

“Whatever problem they have is self-inflicted,” Onanuga said, urging Obi and his allies to resolve their internal disputes and prepare to compete through established democratic processes.

The comments come amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition space, as political actors begin early positioning ahead of future electoral contests.