Lauretta Onochie, the former aide to late president Muhammadu Buhari and ex-chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has made a bold political statement against President Bola Tinubu, insisting his time in office will come to an end by the next election cycle.Speaking at a recent political event attended by grassroots supporters, Onochie categorically distanced herself from the Tinubu administration.
She stated, “Tinubu has no pathway to return in 2027. We are not saying maybe or maybe not. He’s gone. Tinubu is gone.” Onochie emphasized that his exit from power is “non-negotiable,” leaving no room for speculation about his political future.
Reflecting on her own involvement in the 2023 elections, Onochie openly expressed regret and embarrassment over her decision to support Tinubu. “He was elected by the people including me standing here and shamefully too and regrettably too,” she said, acknowledging the discomfort her past allegiance now causes her.
Onochie, who once served as Social Media Aide to Buhari before her chairmanship at the NDDC, stressed that her current movement would not descend to the aggressive tactics she attributed to Tinubu’s supporters. “We will work gently. We are not going to be running around or doing whatever they are doing. We are not going to go with them,” she said, adding that her followers would “stand our ground respectfully without insulting anyone.”
She concluded with an emphatic prediction for the next presidential race: “We will just march on in 2027 and I think 2027 he will be gone. It is non-negotiable. He is gone already.”
The event showcased Onochie’s commitment to a different approach in politics, with an emphasis on democratic activism and respectful opposition. Her remarks add to a chorus of shifting allegiances ahead of the 2027 election, as other political figures and strategists also foresee dramatic changes in Nigeria’s leadership landscape.
