Phrank Shaibu, communication aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, says the 2027 presidential election will be the easiest for his principal, predicting that Nigerians grappling with economic hardship will vote for him.
Shaibu said Atiku will pull in extra votes from citizens who are dissatisfied with the economic reality under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He stated this during an interview on the Mic On Podcast while responding to how Atiku plans to improve on his 2023 performance, where he secured 29 percent of the votes against Tinubu’s incumbency and political machinery.
“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 will shape voters’ decisions in 2027, expressing confidence that citizens seeking relief from economic pain will back 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 maintained that Atiku’s expected votes will come from people who believe the current government has failed to improve their living standards.
He also claimed that Tinubu, alongside members of his family and cabinet, knows the administration has underperformed.
“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.
Shaibu further questioned the rationale behind the federal government’s plan to engage thousands of social media influencers to promote its achievements.
He was reacting to recent remarks by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, regarding plans to hire 4,000 influencers to showcase government projects.
Shaibu argued that a government that has genuinely impacted citizens’ lives should not need to rely on influencers to prove its track record.
“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 an impact in the last three and a half years.”
