No ADC aspirant will step down ahead of 2027, Atiku says

Atiku Abubakar has said no aspirant in the African Democratic Congress will withdraw from the party’s presidential race ahead of the 2027 elections, rejecting reports that he is under pressure to step aside for a southern candidate.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the polls.

He said the ADC would allow all qualified aspirants to contest freely once the party begins its candidate selection process, adding that no individual would be compelled to step down.

“At the appropriate time, all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely,” the statement said. “No one is stepping down.”

Read Also: We won’t repeat 2023 mistake on Fubara in 2027 – Wike

The former vice-president spoke amid speculation that opposition figures were urging him to make way for a southern flagbearer as part of a broader electoral calculation. He dismissed the claims, saying opposition leaders had instead rallied around the ADC to build what he described as a credible national alternative to the APC.

“Predictably, agents aligned with the presidency are now attempting to destabilise the ADC from the outside,” the statement said, accusing them of interfering in the party’s internal affairs, particularly its presidential nomination process.

Atiku said the ADC remained committed to an open, transparent and competitive process, stressing that inclusiveness, rather than pressure or coercion, should guide democratic participation.

He also used the statement to criticise the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing the government’s leadership record as damaging and arguing that responsibility for Nigeria’s current challenges lay with those in power.

“If anyone should step aside, it is President Tinubu,” the statement said, accusing his administration of pursuing economic policies that have deepened hardship and of narrowing political space.

Atiku said the ADC intended to challenge what he described as growing political dominance by the ruling party and warned that intimidation or sabotage would not derail the opposition’s plans.

“Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight,” the statement said.

Oluwatosin Ogunjuyigbe is a writer and journalist who covers business, finance, technology, and the changing forces shaping Nigeria’s economy. He focuses on turning complex ideas into clear, compelling stories.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date