(In Nigeria) Presidential Aide Bayo Onanuga Faces Backlash Over Deleted Tweet Downplaying Buhari’s Northern Votes in 2019 Election

 

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has sparked widespread criticism in Nigeria due to a now-deleted tweet in which he dismissed claims that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s 12 million northern votes were solely responsible for his 2019 election victory. 

The tweet, posted shortly before Buhari’s burial following his death on July 13, 2025, drew sharp rebuke for its timing and perceived insensitivity, with many Nigerians expressing outrage on platforms like X.In the controversial post, Onanuga suggested that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged into the All Progressives Congress (APC) under Tinubu’s leadership, was instrumental in securing Buhari’s victory by providing crucial votes in southern Nigeria. 

He argued that, despite Buhari’s strong northern voter base, the former president had little support in the south and relied on the ACN’s influence to achieve the electoral “spread” required to meet constitutional requirements for the presidency. Onanuga emphasized that the ACN’s six southwestern states delivered “important votes,” enabling Buhari to win in 25 states, surpassing the mandatory 24-state threshold.

The backlash was swift, with critics, including users on X, accusing Onanuga of disrespecting Buhari’s legacy and attempting to diminish the significance of northern support for political gain. Some labeled the remarks as divisive, arguing they undermined national unity during a period of mourning. The deletion of the tweet has only intensified scrutiny, with many questioning Onanuga’s motives and the Tinubu administration’s stance, reigniting debates about the dynamics of the 2019 election and the APC’s coalition strategy

See also: (In Nigeria) President Declares July 15, 2025, Public Holiday to Honor Late President Buhari