Deji Adeyanju Under Fire After Declaring Atiku’s Tinubu Drug Case Campaign ‘Dead On Arrival’

• Deji Adeyanju says Atiku Abubakar’s renewed focus on President Tinubu’s alleged US drug case shows the opposition has “learnt nothing” from the 2023 election.

• The activist questions the opposition’s strategy for 2027, arguing that relying on the same issue that failed to stop Tinubu’s victory is politically ineffective.

• His comments trigger fierce reactions, with some Nigerians accusing him of defending Tinubu, while others agree the opposition needs a fresh campaign strategy.

• The exchange reflects growing debate over the direction of the opposition’s campaign as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensify.

July 27, () — Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has come under heavy criticism after declaring that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s continued emphasis on President Bola Tinubu’s alleged drug-related case in the United States amounts to a failed political strategy that is unlikely to unseat the President in the 2027 election.

Adeyanju made the remarks in a post on his verified X account on Monday, arguing that the issue had already dominated political discourse during the 2023 presidential election but failed to prevent Tinubu from emerging victorious.

According to him, the opposition risks repeating the same mistakes if it continues to rely on the controversy as its principal campaign message.

“Atiku’s obsession with Tinubu’s drug case in the US shows he has run out of strategy. This was the main talking point in the last election, and it ended badly for the opposition. Still making it the main issue in this election shows they learnt nothing from 2023. What is the strategy to defeat Tinubu in 2027, or you guys still want to use the 2023 strategy?” Adeyanju wrote.

The activist’s comments come amid renewed exchanges over documents relating to Tinubu’s past legal records in the United States, an issue that has resurfaced in Nigeria’s political discourse as opposition figures intensify criticism of the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

Nigerians Push Back

Adeyanju’s post immediately generated strong reactions, with many X users accusing the activist of appearing to defend President Tinubu rather than objectively assessing the opposition’s strategy.

One respondent, identified as Zeda Reticuli, accused Adeyanju of helping political elites evade accountability.

“It’s lawyers like you that have aided and abetted corrupt criminal politicians to keep sabotaging the freedom and development of this country, so you want ppl to keep quiet because it concerns your tribesman. We have not forgotten when Jonathan, without a criminal case, was harassed”, the user wrote.

Another user, Ajibodi, suggested Adeyanju should openly declare his political preference instead of criticising Atiku.

“Sir, please support your fellow Yoruba man openly, stop hiding. Kogi Yoruba and Lagos Yoruba are Yoruba”, the post read.

While some criticised the activist, others endorsed his argument that the opposition requires a fresh electoral strategy.

Olajetemi wrote: “No strategy oo… Tinubu that we all know can’t be defeated in his own game. It’s very hard to vote out a working and reformative government. He has set the space so high that the opposition are in disarray!”

Similarly, Yemi commented: “I think they want to repeat the same strategy again Sir.”

Offering a different perspective, another X user, Ukpong, argued that Adeyanju’s recollection of events was inaccurate.

“It was the talking point after the general election, not during the election,” the user wrote.

In another reaction, Big Boss remarked, “Biting is part of fighting,” suggesting that political attacks are inevitable in electioneering.

Debate Over Opposition Strategy

Adeyanju’s comments have reopened debate over how Nigeria’s opposition intends to challenge President Tinubu in 2027.

While some political observers argue that questions surrounding Tinubu’s past legal issues remain matters of public accountability deserving continued scrutiny, others believe the opposition would be better served by concentrating on current governance issues, including inflation, unemployment, insecurity, poverty and the rising cost of living.

The debate also reflects broader disagreements within opposition circles over whether revisiting controversies from the 2023 election will resonate with voters or whether a new political narrative is required to mount a stronger challenge in the next presidential contest.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has consistently criticised President Tinubu’s administration over economic management, governance and accountability since the conclusion of the 2023 presidential election. In recent months, the former Vice President has also renewed public attention on documents relating to Tinubu’s past legal records in the United States, arguing that issues of transparency and integrity remain central to public office.