The Presidency has advised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to consider retiring from politics and relocating to his second home in Dubai, following the defection of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made the comment on his verified X handle on Friday.

Onanuga described Governor Fintiri’s move as a significant setback for Atiku Abubakar, saying: “Adamawa Governor Fintiri joins the APC, taking away Atiku’s entire home base to President Tinubu’s party. This is a big blow for Atiku.

“With the 2027 presidential election less than a year away, Fintiri’s defection further diminishes Atiku’s influence in his home state. His ADC is largely unknown locally. It is clear that he must reassess his political ambitions, as Fintiri has effectively transformed the APC into an Adamawa juggernaut.”

Onanuga added, “If a politician is not widely popular at home, he has no business promoting his candidacy elsewhere. The time has come for Atiku to consider retiring from politics and spending more time in his second home in Dubai.”

Governor Fintiri officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday to join the APC, marking a notable shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.