“Tinubu Is Insulting Us, I Won’t Support Him in 2027” – APC Chieftain Onokpasa

Jesutega Onokpasa, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has announced that he will not support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 unless the president addresses concerns about his treatment of party loyalists. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Onokpasa accused Tinubu of disrespecting his supporters by appointing individuals who had previously opposed him and the APC.

Onokpasa specifically criticized the recent appointment of Daniel Bwala as Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication. Bwala, a former aide to Atiku Abubakar—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election—was a vocal critic of Tinubu during the campaign. The decision to bring Bwala into the administration has sparked backlash among APC members, who feel sidelined despite their efforts to secure the party’s victory in 2023.

“This appointment is an insult to those of us who worked for Tinubu’s success,” Onokpasa stated. “People who called him a drug dealer without evidence are now being rewarded. What is Mr. President trying to say? Is he trying to justify the accusations made against him?”

He further criticized Tinubu’s approach, accusing him of treating APC members with disdain. “If Mr. President continues disrespecting our party members and acting as though we are beggars, he should not expect our support in 2027. We made him president, and he needs to respect us. Appointing someone like Daniel Bwala is tantamount to saying ‘to hell with you’ to his supporters.”

When asked whether he planned to leave the APC, Onokpasa dismissed the notion, emphasizing that the party is a collective effort. “Tinubu doesn’t own the APC. We all formed this party together,” he said.