Lere Olayinka, Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has questioned whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is still pursuing his presidential ambition ahead of the January 16, 2027 election.

Olayinka made the remarks on Tuesday in a post on X, referring to Atiku as “Wole Wole Kachalla” while questioning his continued participation in the presidential race under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He also took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, questioning why the former Anambra State governor had not allegedly misled Nigerians in the past two days.

In the post, Olayinka wrote: “Abeg, is Kachalla Wole Wole Atiku Abubakar still contesting this January 16, 2027 presidential election? E reach make person ask.”

He added: “For two days, Peter Obi has not lied, what happened?”

The remarks come amid exchanges between aides of Atiku and President Bola Tinubu over the president’s recent spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia.

Tinubu was reportedly granted access to the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, where he prayed as part of his pilgrimage and performance of Umrah. The development has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some claiming he was the first Nigerian president to enter the sacred structure.

Atiku’s spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, had also claimed that the former vice president financially sponsored Tinubu’s first trip to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.