Friday, July 17, 2026

Overconfidence, complacency, bad tactics made Atiku, Obi lose to Tinubu: Buhari

Mr Buhari said while the governing APC was battling to retain power at the central, the opposition leaders were making bad tactics which made them lose the poll.

• April 27, 2023
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

Outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari has slammed candidates of the opposition political parties in the February 25 presidential election, saying “overconfidence” made them lose the exercise to the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

“They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from outside why they are unable to beat us. A combination of overconfidence, complacency and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp,” Mr Buhari said on Thursday while receiving the Progressive Governors Forum led by its Chairman, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

INEC declared APC’s Bola Tinubu winner of the presidential election despite complaints of infractions and election fraud levelled  by Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and LP’s Peter Obi.

Both men have approached the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Mr Buhari said while the governing APC was battling to retain power at the central, the opposition leaders were making bad tactics which made them lose the poll.  

He stated that the opposition leaders are now finding it hard to accept the outcome of the election which favours Mr Tinubu of the APC due to their overconfident nature. 

“They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. Our Party blended confidence with caution, we worked hard and won. Now, their overconfidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else,” Mr Buhari added.

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