The Presidency has firmly rejected accusations that President Bola Tinubu is responsible for recent setbacks faced by opposition parties, describing the claims as baseless and politically driven.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News' Prime Time on Thursday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed reports suggesting Tinubu was meddling in opposition activities—particularly the newly formed alliance involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and others under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“There’s a pattern in Nigeria where Tinubu is blamed for everything. Whenever problems arise, people are quick to point fingers at him. But that’s simply false. He wasn’t even in the country when some of these incidents took place,” Onanuga stated.

Opposition leaders had claimed that venues secured for political gatherings were abruptly cancelled and that members of the ADC coalition had to trek long distances to access the Shehu Musa Yaradua Centre in Abuja to avoid police interference or potential blockades.

Onanuga refuted allegations that the Tinubu administration is working to silence dissent or opposition, emphasizing the government's commitment to democratic principles.

“This administration upholds freedom of speech. Some say otherwise, but that’s nonsense. People can speak freely, express opinions, and the press operates independently. If an event venue backs out, does that mean Tinubu owns it?” he queried.

Addressing the growing Atiku-Obi alliance, Onanuga downplayed its political weight, noting that such coalitions don’t necessarily translate into electoral success.

“Atiku has contested more presidential elections than anyone—more than Tinubu or Obi—and has failed every time. Buhari also faced repeated defeats before finally succeeding, and that was with Tinubu’s support,” he said.

He also pointed out that Atiku’s 2023 strategy, which leaned on northern support, failed to resonate with southern voters. “Trying that approach again won’t win him the South. Even with Obi as a running mate, it’s unlikely Obi’s 2023 followers will automatically align,” Onanuga added.

Reinforcing Tinubu’s support base in the North, he highlighted key appointments and policy decisions as evidence of the administration’s inclusive governance.

“This president is investing in the North—he’s appointed leaders from both the North-West and North-East into significant roles. In politics, goodwill matters. The criticism doesn’t reflect the real situation. People are seeing the impact,” he said.

Onanuga concluded by saying that when the time is right, the President will leverage the goodwill earned through his administration’s efforts across all regions of the country.