Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has mocked Arise Television anchor Oseni Rufai over his criticism of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.

Bwala described Rufai’s remarks as a confession indicating that the opposition was beginning to recognise the political challenges facing its bid to defeat Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The presidential aide reacted in a post on his official X handle on Friday while sharing a video of Rufai questioning Obi’s preparedness for the next election.

“Confessional statement is admissible in court. Lolll eyes Dey clear small small,” Bwala wrote.

Rufai had raised concerns about Obi’s political organisation, his supporters’ disagreements with the NDC and the absence of a manifesto outlining his plans for the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Friday, the broadcaster questioned whether Obi was adequately prepared for the contest, particularly amid reported tensions between the NDC and the Obidient Movement.

He also cited disagreements involving the party and the OK Movement, arguing that the reported divisions could undermine Obi’s political prospects.

“As of today, Peter Obi is at loggerheads with the NDC and the OK Movement, amid widespread disarray. Today, people are even asking where Obi’s manifesto is,” Rufai said.

The anchor also criticised Obi’s position on petrol subsidy removal, alleging that the former Anambra State governor had been inconsistent in his public statements on the policy.

Rufai argued that Obi had previously indicated support for retaining the subsidy but had subsequently suggested removing it after addressing alleged corruption surrounding the system.

He questioned how Obi intended to navigate the political challenges ahead of the 2027 election, adding that the former governor had lost some supporters who backed him during the 2023 presidential election.

Rufai made the remarks while responding to comments by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Dan Ulasi, who had described Obi as a serious opposition figure capable of challenging Tinubu.

However, Ulasi expressed doubts about the opposition’s ability to defeat the president, citing divisions among opposition leaders and what he described as inadequate grassroots mobilisation.

The PDP chieftain warned that the opposition was more fragmented than it was before the 2023 presidential election and urged its leaders not to underestimate Tinubu’s political strategy.

“In 2023, I said on this platform that if anybody takes President Tinubu for granted, you’re doing it at your own peril,” Ulasi said.

He recalled an opposition meeting held before the 2023 election, where some participants reportedly expressed confidence that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar would defeat Tinubu.

Ulasi said he challenged the optimism, questioning what the opposition had done on the ground to guarantee victory.

According to him, some participants were unhappy with his position, but he maintained that political confidence without sufficient mobilisation was not enough to secure electoral success.

Tinubu eventually won the 2023 presidential election, a development Ulasi said should serve as a lesson to opposition politicians preparing for another contest.

“And we went to that election. What happened? Tinubu won. And we again in another cycle of election. Like you rightly said, the opposition is so fragmented now, worse than it was in 2023,” he said.

Ulasi also questioned whether opposition parties had undertaken enough grassroots engagement and town hall meetings to mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 election.

He maintained that defeating Tinubu would require an extraordinary effort if the opposition failed to resolve its internal disagreements and present a united front.

“So, only God will answer that question, if there is some divine process going on. But as things are on the ground, it will take some magic for anybody to stop Tinubu. I can tell you that,” Ulasi said.