Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has affirmed that he will not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, titled “Nigeria’s Democracy Under Siege: Opposition Faces Existential Threat,” Atiku accused the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of meddling in the internal affairs of the ADC, particularly in its candidate selection process.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate alleged that agents aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were attempting to destabilise the ADC to weaken the opposition and pave the way for a one-party system.
Atiku noted that all aspirants for the ADC ticket, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former APC aspirant Rotimi Amaechi, would submit to a presidential convention. He said the party’s leadership had assured an open, transparent, and competitive process for choosing its flagbearer.
“Any call—overt or covert—for Atiku to ‘step aside’ is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people,” the statement read.
Atiku criticised the Tinubu administration for shrinking democratic space and implementing policies that have caused hardship to Nigerians. He maintained that the ADC has become a rallying point for patriotic leaders committed to resisting a creeping one-party state.
Reaffirming that no aspirant would be pressured to withdraw, Atiku added, “When the time comes, all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely. No one is stepping down. If anyone should step aside, it should be President Tinubu, whose leadership is a national liability.”
The statement referenced Peter Obi’s recent public declaration of ADC membership in Enugu, which prompted reactions from government officials, described as evidence of fear within the ruling party.
Atiku concluded by emphasising the ADC’s determination to challenge the Tinubu-led APC and restore democratic balance in Nigeria, asserting, “Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight.”
