President Bola Tinubu has expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of some political associates whose alleged desperation for power is threatening the image of his administration ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Sources within the Presidential Villa said the president was concerned that the conduct of some individuals around him could undermine his reputation and raise questions about his commitment to credible elections.
The concerns reportedly followed the exclusion of some governorship candidates from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final list of candidates, including Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, who is seeking to govern Ogun State, and Isa Ali Pantami, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Gombe State.
According to individuals familiar with the development, some people close to Tinubu believe that the controversy surrounding the candidates’ exclusion could damage the administration’s democratic credentials if the president’s name continues to be associated with actions perceived as attempts to weaken political opponents.
One All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said those who brought the matter to the president’s attention were concerned about protecting his reputation rather than advancing their personal political interests.
“Those who alerted the president are people who have the true interest of our president at heart, not those that are doing everything to inherit his structure while he is still alive.”
The party chieftain added that Tinubu was determined to protect the legacy of his administration and avoid any development that could create the impression that electoral institutions were being manipulated for political purposes.
“We won’t allow anything to stain the legacy we are trying to leave for Nigerians. In Osun, the president proved to Nigerians that he is a man of his words; that he is committed to free and fair elections no matter who is on the receiving end. So he won’t allow the electoral umpire to be deliberately portrayed as biased ahead of the elections,” the source said.
The source further claimed that Tinubu had convened an emergency meeting with members of his inner political circle to address the situation and prevent further damage to his administration’s image.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu was also said to be among those pushing for a resolution of the concerns within the presidency.
However, the precise details of the alleged meeting and the actions discussed were not made public.
“There are things I shouldn’t tell you here. But I can tell you for a fact that the president has expressed his strong dissatisfaction and things will be corrected. No one should continue to drop his name to advance their selfish ambitions. Baba is a true democrat. His performance in office will win the forthcoming election for him,” the source said.
Another source in the presidency disclosed that disagreements within the APC had become a concern for Tinubu as the party prepares for the next round of elections.
The source said the president was attempting to address divisions within the ruling party while urging members to take responsibility for their actions rather than allowing controversies involving individual politicians to be blamed on the presidency.
“We will deliver Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming election, no matter what the opposition does. But everyone should carry their cross and not paint the president black,” the source said.
The source also criticised party members who allegedly celebrated the prospect of candidates being removed from INEC’s list before the development became official.
“We would have allowed this to slide and not tell the president to call them to order. But a situation where our party members would be celebrating that they would remove names from the INEC list even before it actually happened was a reckless one,” the source added.
The allegations, however, remain claims attributed to unnamed sources.
No direct public statement from Tinubu confirming the reported emergency meeting or the specific allegations against his associates was provided in the account.