In a post via X on Thursday, Onanuga said the coalition politicians who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) left the ruling party “years and months ago”.
On Tuesday, opposition politicians met with some ADC leaders and the party as the coalition platform for the 2027 election.
The coalition appointed former Senate President David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, ex-governor of Osun, as interim national chairman and secretary, respectively.
On Wednesday, the official unveiling of the ADC as a coalition platform took place at an event in Abuja.
Politicians at the event included former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the LP in 2023; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation; Solomon Dalung, ex-minister of sports; and Odigie Oyegun, the former national chairman of the APC.
Others are Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice; Dino Melaye; Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine; Eyinnanya Abaribe; Gabriel Suswan; Ireti Kingibe; Elisha Abbo; Uche Secondus; Tunde Ogbeha; Victor Umeh; Lauretta Onochie; Liyel Imoke; Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.
Speaking on the development, Onanuga said Nigerians should not be deceived about the relevance of erstwhile APC members who joined the coalition platform.
The presidential spokesperson said the ruling party will not “mourn” their departure.
“Rotimi Amaechi’s soul left the APC in 2022 after losing the presidential primary to President Tinubu,” he said.
“Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General, has never hidden his estrangement from the APC since Tinubu assumed leadership and since he lost the governorship bid in Kebbi.
“Hadi Sirika, now with the ADC, is facing trial for contract splitting and other allegations.
“The renegade Rauf Aregbesola committed anti-party in the last Osun election and was expelled as an unfit APC member.
“Kashim Imam and the octogenarian Chief John Odigie Oyegun are among the disgruntled politicians posturing as would-be saviours of Nigeria.
“Imam abandoned the APC after failing to secure the vice-presidential ticket in 2022. Chief Oyegun, a former party chairman, also lost interest in the APC and has been a foundational member of this coalition since its inception.
“My advice to Nigerians: Shine your eyes very well. A political party with no clear agenda or ideology — whose members are united only by their hatred for President Tinubu — can not be good for our country. It will only set us back by decades.
“These politicians are desperados, hungry for power — not for the benefit of Nigerians but for themselves.”
