A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lacks the financial strength to compete with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Momodu, a former presidential aspirant, made the assertion on Sunday when he featured as a guest on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
Speaking during the interview, Momodu warned that Nigeria was drifting toward a one-party state and likened the current political atmosphere to the era of former military ruler Sani Abacha.
He also argued that despite the financial imbalance between both camps, his support for Atiku reflected a commitment to sustaining opposition politics in Nigeria.
“I will describe this moment as being worse than that of the Abacha government. Many people are worried that we now have virtually a one-party state.
“Atiku does not have 1 per cent of Tinubu’s war chest. No, he doesn’t have it. You can imagine how much Tinubu can generate from Lagos State alone, not to talk of national. And when you have an absolute ruler, everything is available to him,” he said.
The ADC chieftain also dismissed insinuations that he is planning to betray Atiku, insisting that he had never attended any covert meeting without the former vice-president’s knowledge.
He said, “It’s easier for me to move to Tinubu than to move to Atiku. I’m one million times closer to Tinubu than to Atiku. In fact, people were telling Atiku that Dele is Tinubu’s spy till today. Don’t trust him.
“Dele is part of Tinubu’s strategy. He’s using him to spy on you. But there is nothing to spy on. I have not attended any secret private meeting without Atiku.
“So, if I’m with Atiku. That should show you that we are people who have a genuine interest in the country. I believe there must be opposition politics and candidates. But Tinubu wants to contest against himself. And it doesn’t make sense to me.”
The Ovation publisher further rejected claims that opposition politicians were afraid of the President, insisting instead that the government feared the reaction of Nigerians.
Momodu also criticised the administration’s handling of the country’s economic challenges, saying many Nigerians were struggling while the government appeared disconnected from reality.
“You asked who is afraid of Tinubu. I would like to answer that question. It is Tinubu who is afraid of Nigerians. That is why they are cooking all kinds of cocktails, which you call strategy.
“So, that’s why I’m telling you that nobody is afraid of him. He is the one who is afraid of Nigerians. And Nigerians have a way of fighting back. Go and read our contemporary history. Nigerians have a way of fighting back.
“Nigerians are suffering. I think the Tinubu government is living on another planet. They are not being realistic and have their own delusion of grandeur,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing political manoeuvring among opposition parties and potential contenders ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with debates intensifying over the strength and cohesion of the opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
