Onoh Tackles Marafa Over Threat To Cut Tinubu’s 2027 Votes

Former South-East spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, Dr Josef Onoh, has faulted Senator Kabiru Marafa over his threat to reduce Tinubu’s tally by one million votes in the 2027 presidential election.

Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate and coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima campaign in Zamfara during the 2023 polls, recently accused Tinubu of adopting a “use-and-dump” style of leadership.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Onoh described Marafa’s remarks as driven by personal grievances rather than an objective evaluation of Tinubu’s administration. He said while Marafa’s contributions in 2023 were acknowledged, the claim that he could unilaterally reduce Tinubu’s votes was unrealistic.

“In 2023, Tinubu secured over 1.4 million votes in the North-West, with Zamfara playing a part through APC’s collective strength, not the effort of one individual,” Onoh noted.

He dismissed Marafa’s reference to Governor Dauda Lawal’s 2023 victory in Zamfara as evidence of changing political tides, saying the win was influenced by local dynamics and anti-incumbency factors, not Marafa’s personal clout.

Onoh also rejected claims of marginalisation, stressing that Tinubu has appointed several northerners, including Zamfara’s Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, to key positions. He argued that insecurity in the state was being addressed under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

On the allegation of betrayal, Onoh said Tinubu’s political career shows consistency in building alliances and rewarding loyalty, citing his continued backing for Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other leaders.

He added that Marafa’s vow to cut Tinubu’s votes by one million exaggerated his influence and underestimated the president’s broad support base.

“President Tinubu is focused on tackling economic, security and infrastructural challenges. His policies may face resistance now, but they are designed to yield results before 2027,” Onoh said.

He concluded that Marafa’s threats were premature and rooted in personal disappointment, while Tinubu remained committed to inclusive governance and national unity.