“Why I Criticised Tinubu in the Past” – Bwala

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy, has explained that his previous criticism of the administration was due to his role as a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, Bwala stated, “I criticised Tinubu’s election and administration in the past because I was in the opposition. The opposition’s work is to criticise the sitting government and hold them accountable. My views changed after I met the President, and he saw a need to appoint me.”

Before joining the administration, Bwala had accused Tinubu of election rigging and predicted that he would face moral legitimacy challenges. In a post on X, he wrote, “Although the presumption of law is in favour of Tinubu until the final determination of the election tribunal and appeals, he will struggle with moral legitimacy (because he rigged the election) for 240 days of his presidency.”

He also alleged that certain political figures secretly supported Tinubu for cultural and tribal reasons. During a May 2023 interview with Arise Television, he referred to Tinubu as a “president-select” rather than a “president-elect,” insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manipulated the election results. “We are in court to say it was a rigged process. As long as there is no final determination of the matter, we have every right under law, equity, and justice to express our opinion that he is a president-select and not a president-elect,” he declared.

Despite his past stance, Bwala’s position shifted after engaging with the President, ultimately leading to his appointment as a key media and policy adviser in Tinubu’s administration.