Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has questioned whether northern political leaders would support former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in a possible 2031 presidential bid.

Speaking in an interview with AIT, Olayinka argued that some northern politicians, including serving governors who may have presidential ambitions, might not support Atiku because they would also be seeking to succeed President Bola Tinubu.

He said such politicians would be reluctant to support an eight-year Atiku presidency if it meant waiting longer for their own opportunity to lead the country.

Olayinka also claimed that politicians from different parties were backing Tinubu’s bid for a second term, stressing that Wike was not the only opposition figure supporting the President.

He listed politicians from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Accord Party and Allied Peoples Movement among those he said had expressed support for Tinubu.

“Most people in other parties like APGA, Accord, even the APM that has a candidate have said they are supporting the President,” Olayinka said.

He added that the collective objective of those supporting the President was to secure a second term for Tinubu.