LAGOS, Nigeria — All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council member Segun Sowunmi accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on October 23, 2026, of suffering from an “Emir complex” that leaves him disconnected from ordinary citizens.
Speaking during an interview on Vanguard‘s Politics Hub, Segun Sowunmi questioned the credibility of top opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to speak for Nigerians facing poverty. Golden Info reports that Segun Sowunmi stated Atiku Abubakar lacks the capacity to empathize with the poor due to his public profile and lifestyle following his tenure as vice president from 1999 to 2007.
Segun Sowunmi explained that his phrase referred to a powerful figure accustomed to deferential treatment from those around him. He noted that Atiku Abubakar continues to travel with extensive convoys, arguing that his panache prevents him from acting as a champion for the less privileged.
Addressing criticisms from Rotimi Amaechi, Segun Sowunmi pointed out that the former governor had spent most of his political career in government over the past 24 years. He questioned how figures who have long served in office could suddenly position themselves as representatives of citizens grappling with economic hardship.
The comments come as President Bola Tinubu prepares to seek re-election in 2027, backed by governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress as well as state executives from opposition parties. Segun Sowunmi maintained that opposition attacks against President Bola Tinubu must be evaluated against the public records of those making the claims.