Phrank Shaibu, a communication aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has said the 2027 presidential election will be the easiest for his principal, predicting that Nigerians struggling with economic hardship will vote for him.
Shaibu said Atiku would gain additional votes from Nigerians dissatisfied with the economic conditions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He stated this during an interview on the Mic On Podcast while 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, amid 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.
He argued that hunger and poverty would influence voters’ decisions in 2027, expressing confidence that Nigerians seeking relief from economic hardship would support the former vice-president.
“Hungry Nigerians, impoverished Nigerians, who are excited that life will be affordable again, will vote Atiku massively come January 16,” he said.
Shaibu insisted that Atiku’s expected votes would come from Nigerians who believe the current administration had failed to improve their living conditions.
He also claimed that Tinubu and members of his family and cabinet were 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,” Shaibu said.
The aide also questioned the need for the government to engage thousands of social media influencers to publicise its achievements.
He was reacting to recent remarks by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, about plans to engage 4,000 influencers to showcase the administration’s projects.
Shaibu argued that a government that had made a significant impact on citizens’ lives should be able to demonstrate its achievements without relying heavily on influencers.
“That was why Umahi was on TV the other day, and he told the whole world how he is going to hire 4,000 influencers to showcase what they have done,” he said.
“Influencing means you need to make believe. You need to show people. You don’t need to struggle to show what you have done if you have made impact in the last three and a half years.”
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