The Tinubu-led government has dismissed the announced coalition of opposition figures—including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Nasir El-Rufai of the Social Democratic Party—as one driven by hate, berating the coalescing opposition politicians as “frustrated” and “sore losers.”

Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for the Tinubu-led government, made this statement on Thursday, shortly after Mr Abubakar and others announced their coalition.

Mr Onanuga referred to the Abubakar-led coalition as “the coalition of Tinubu haters.”

“They are not politicians after the public good. It’s all about their self-interest. They are disgruntled. They are a frustrated lot. The leaders are sore losers. The coalition is an amalgam of Tinubu haters. Their agenda is to stop Tinubu,” Mr Onanuga said.

The presidential spokesperson added that Mr Tinubu is focused on governance and would not be distracted by a coalition of politicians driven by selfish interests.

“President Tinubu is focused on governance to build a prosperous country. He is on the way to achieving this. Two months to his midterm, he has many solid achievements to showcase. Intractable problems are being tackled headlong. He cannot be distracted by the so-called coalition of politicians,” Mr Onanuga said.

This followed the announcement of a coalition of opposition parties aiming to oust Mr Tinubu on Thursday.

At the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, where opposition politicians held a press conference opposing Mr Tinubu’s declared state of emergency in Rivers, Mr Abubakar said, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”