Former media aide to ex–Vice President Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani, has revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari did not throw his full support behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the 2023 general elections.
According to him, Buhari only backed Tinubu at the final stage of the campaign, a factor that contributed to the APC’s internal divisions and electoral challenges in key states like Kaduna.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV, Sani defended former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against criticisms suggesting that he was responsible for the APC’s defeat in the state during the presidential election.
He argued that multiple political dynamics particularly internal party intrigues and mixed loyalties within the Buhari administration played a far greater role in shaping the outcome.
“Even the president himself, that is Buhari, did not actually believe in the party’s project until the last minute,” Sani said. “Tinubu said so in one of his campaigns that ‘Buhari is not with me,’ so it is not allegedly. You can see Abdullahi Adamu, the party chairman, said the president directed that they should support Ahmed Lawan.”
Sani’s remarks align with longstanding speculation that Buhari’s loyalty during the APC primaries was divided between various power blocs within the party.
According to him, the then APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, openly admitted that Buhari had instructed key party leaders to support Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the party’s consensus candidate. This internal confusion, Sani said, weakened the APC’s unity ahead of the elections.
The former presidential aide explained that such divisions at the top made it difficult for party governors and campaign coordinators to mobilize effectively.
“When a sitting president does not give clear direction or consistent support, it sends the wrong signal to both the electorate and party loyalists,” he noted. “That uncertainty reflected in the performance of the party across several states, not just Kaduna.”
Sani insisted that El-Rufai worked tirelessly for the APC during the elections and should not be blamed for the loss in Kaduna. He pointed out that El-Rufai delivered the state to the APC during his eight years in office and remained a strong advocate for Tinubu’s candidacy, despite the political headwinds and policy challenges that affected public perception of the ruling party.
“It is unfair to single out El-Rufai for blame,” Sani argued. “The truth is that the naira redesign policy, insecurity, and poor coordination at the federal level affected the entire campaign. Kaduna was not isolated in this. Many Nigerians were frustrated at that time, and that frustration was reflected at the ballot box.”
He also said that the tension between Tinubu and elements within Buhari’s circle became evident during the APC primaries and continued into the campaign.
“Buhari’s body language was not supportive until the very last minute,” Sani claimed. “Even Tinubu himself complained publicly during one of his rallies, where he said, ‘They are trying to sabotage me.’ That was not hidden from anyone.”
Political analysts have long debated the extent of Buhari’s involvement in Tinubu’s campaign. While some insiders argued that Buhari eventually endorsed and campaigned for Tinubu, others maintain that his support was lukewarm and came too late to unify the party completely.
Sani further stressed that the APC’s internal crisis, coupled with voter discontent over economic hardship and fuel scarcity at the time, made the 2023 elections particularly challenging.
“People were angry, the policies were confusing, and communication was poor. Those who blame El-Rufai are simply refusing to acknowledge the broader picture,” he said.
He concluded by calling on the APC to learn from its internal divisions and rebuild trust among its members ahead of future elections. “You cannot win elections with divided loyalty. A ruling party must speak with one voice from the president to the local government,” he warned. Sëe_ More_Hére>>>>
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