Segun Sowunmi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of being disconnected from the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, describing his lifestyle and public conduct as evidence of what he called an “Emir complex”.
Sowunmi made the remarks during an interview on Vanguard's Politics Hub, reported on Friday, October 23, 2026, while discussing President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign and opposition criticism of the administration's handling of economic hardship.
The APC campaign council member questioned whether Atiku and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi could credibly present themselves as advocates for Nigerians experiencing poverty, given their extensive political careers and years in public office.
Referring to Atiku's tenure as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, Sowunmi argued that the former vice-president's continued association with political privilege had distanced him from everyday economic realities.
“Up till today, have you seen vice president that goes around the way Atiku is going around with convoy, in terms of his panache, Atiku is suffering from what you call an Emir complex,” Sowunmi said.
Explaining the expression, he compared Atiku's public demeanour to that of a traditional ruler accustomed to receiving special recognition and deference from people around him.
“So he has no capacity to know or empathise with the poor. He is not a patron deity of the poor,” he added.
Sowunmi also criticised Amaechi, questioning his authority to speak about poverty after spending much of his political career in government.
He argued that opposition politicians who previously held influential public offices should have their records examined when criticising the economic conditions facing Nigerians.
His comments came amid disagreements between the ruling APC and opposition figures over economic management, the cost of living and political accountability ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku and other opposition leaders have repeatedly criticised Tinubu's administration over economic hardship and insecurity, maintaining that the government's performance should be central to the presidential contest.
The APC, meanwhile, has defended the administration's economic policies and challenged the credibility of opposition figures seeking to replace the president.
Sowunmi's criticism is particularly notable because he previously served as a spokesperson for Atiku before joining Tinubu's presidential campaign structure.
His inclusion in the APC Presidential Campaign Council's media and strategic communications team was confirmed in the revised membership list released on October 13.
The latest remarks reflect the increasingly personal exchanges between political figures as parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
However, Sowunmi's description of Atiku as suffering from an “Emir complex” represents his political assessment rather than an established fact about the former vice-president's character or ability to understand economic hardship.
No direct response from Atiku to the specific remarks was established in the reports reviewed.
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