The Presidency has dismissed allegations by former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to perpetuate himself in power as a “life president.”

El-Rufai, who recently met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had likened Tinubu to Cameroon’s Paul Biya, in power since 1982. He further alleged that the administration’s democratic credentials were “fake” and that the country was drifting into totalitarianism.

Responding on Monday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claim as baseless.

“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,” Onanuga said.

He added that El-Rufai’s remarks reflected frustration over the President’s growing support in the North, contrary to claims that the region had abandoned him. Onanuga pointed to the grand reception Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday as proof of this support.

The presidential aide further suggested that the former FCT Minister might need “professional counselling,” accusing him of indulging in “hallucinations and political fabrications” after recognising the futility of efforts by his allies in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to block Tinubu’s re-election bid.