Dare Babalola
Segun Showunmi, a former spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, has escalated a growing political rift, warning that he may publicly “unmask” the former Vice President amid an intensifying exchange with his associates.
Showunmi issued the warning in a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, targeting Paul Ibe, a longtime aide to Atiku, over what he described as repeated misinformation and unfounded insinuations.
“Your latest round of insinuations is not only false, it is a textbook case of reckless misinformation that continues to erode whatever credibility remains of the platform you represent,” Showunmi said.
He added that his silence in the face of previous claims had been deliberate, citing respect for relationships connected to Atiku’s family, but warned that such restraint should not be mistaken for weakness.
“I have, until now, exercised restraint deliberately out of consideration for broader relationships tied to your principal. Do not misread that restraint as incapacity or hesitation. It was a choice,” he stated.
The former campaign spokesperson further threatened to respond with detailed evidence if the attacks persist.
“Be advised: if you persist in circulating fabrications or inserting my name into narratives you cannot defend, I will respond in full—not with rhetoric, but with verifiable facts, timelines, and context,” he warned, adding pointedly, “Certainly, I will unmask Atiku. This is not a back-and-forth. It is a notice.”
The latest outburst comes against the backdrop of an escalating war of words involving Atiku’s media circle.
In a separate statement framed as an open letter, Ibe alleged that Showunmi had, during the 2019 campaign period, raised questions about campaign funds, an accusation he said dated back to a 2018 meeting shortly after Showunmi’s appointment as spokesperson.
Ibe wrote that Showunmi had asked “when the former Vice President would release the money to spend,” adding that he personally declined to engage on such matters, insisting he joined the campaign “on principle.”
The claim, which remains contested, adds another layer to the ongoing dispute.
The controversy has also been amplified by commentary from Kio Amachree, the President of Worldview International, Stockholm, Sweden who criticised Showunmi in a separate open letter over his shifting political positions and public statements, further fueling debate about credibility and loyalty within political ranks.
Showunmi, who served as one of Atiku’s prominent media voices during the 2019 and 2023 presidential campaigns under the Peoples Democratic Party, has in recent times distanced himself from his former principal, openly expressing dissatisfaction with internal dynamics.
The unfolding dispute highlights widening cracks among former allies and underscores tensions within opposition politics, with observers noting that the public nature of the exchanges could have broader political implications.
As of press time, Atiku Abubakar has not issued a direct response to Showunmi’s latest threat, while the back-and-forth between his associates and former aides continues to play out in the public space.
