“Bags of Rice Can’t Buy Votes” — Atiku Tells Tinubu
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu that distributing food palliatives will not guarantee his reelection in 2027, as political tensions escalate over the administration’s handling of opposition parties and democratic institutions. Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), delivered the message in a statement titled “Rice, Spaghetti Can’t Save You,” released on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu .
“Bags of rice, spaghetti, and Indomie may offer temporary relief, but they cannot secure legitimacy at the ballot box,” Atiku stated, dismissing the administration’s reliance on food distribution as a substitute for public trust and electoral accountability. His remarks come amid growing concerns from opposition figures regarding the shrinking of democratic space and the alleged weaponisation of state institutions against political rivals .
Atiku characterised the Tinubu administration as consolidating power while exhibiting “fear of credible opposition, fear of free competition, and fear of the Nigerian voter.” He noted that over 30 state governors have been drawn into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) orbit, yet the government displays “visible anxiety about the opposition and, more importantly, about the Nigerian people” despite its overwhelming political dominance .
The former vice president raised specific concerns about judicial interventions and internal crises allegedly engineered to weaken opposition parties. “Court processes have, in critical moments, produced outcomes that blur legal hierarchy and create confusion rather than clarity,” he said, adding that there is “a growing resort to crass and reckless detention orders targeted at opposition figures” .
Atiku’s statement aligns with a broader opposition coalition warning issued in December 2025, where he joined former Senate President David Mark, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and other senior figures to accuse the administration of using anti-graft agencies to intimidate political rivals. The coalition alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has become a tool for selective prosecution, noting that “once you have joined APC, all your sins are forgiven” .
The presidency has vigorously denied these allegations. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the opposition claims as “subterfuge and the empty search for scapegoats,” insisting that defections to the APC are motivated by “the noticeable gains of President Bola Tinubu’s reform programme” rather than coercion . The presidency maintains that the EFCC operates independently and that “no one is above the law” .
Warning against a drift toward a one-party state, Atiku stated, “If the current trajectory continues, Nigeria risks sliding into a system where elections exist in name, but competition is effectively neutralised.” He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, declaring that “leadership must never be so secure that it avoids contest” .
The political landscape has shifted significantly since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. Recent defections include governors from Enugu, Bayelsa, and Taraba States, with the APC now controlling over two-thirds of state governments. The African Democratic Congress has described these defections as “historic political apostasy” and evidence of an unfolding “one-party state” .
Atiku concluded with a direct challenge to the administration: “Why is a government with such vast control still afraid of a free and fair election? Nigeria deserves an answer. And Nigerians deserve a choice” .