Akande Claims Buhari's Cabal Undermined Tinubu's Nominees

Laolu Akande, a former spokesperson to ex-Vice-President, claimed that a powerful cabal within former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration actively worked against President Bola Tinubu. In an interview with Symfoni TV published on October 24, Akande stated that this cabal blocked Tinubu's ministerial nominees, including Dele Alake, now minister of solid minerals, and Wale Edun, the former minister of finance.

He described these rejections as a deliberate indication that Tinubu had no real influence over appointments. Akande recounted witnessing Tinubu's marginalization during Buhari's presidency from 2015 to 2023, noting that Tinubu chose patience over confrontation.

He also linked the cabal to the push for Ahmad Lawan as the APC's consensus presidential candidate ahead of the 2022 primary, which faced resistance from party members. Akande suggested that the cabal's actions reflected a broader effort to shape Buhari's succession to exclude Tinubu, contributing to Buhari's reluctance to endorse any candidate publicly.