Atiku Abubakar Insists on 2027 Presidential Bid, Rejects Calls to Step Aside
By Enemona Samuel Endurance
The Bureau News
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he will not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, despite growing political realignments ahead of the election.
Atiku, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe.
In the statement titled “Nigeria’s Democracy Under Siege: Opposition Faces Existential Threat,” the former presidential candidate accused the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of interfering in the internal affairs of the ADC, particularly in the selection of its presidential flagbearer.
Checks by The Bureau News show that Atiku is not the only major political figure seeking the ADC ticket. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi have also declared interest in contesting on the platform of the party.
Allegations of Political Interference
Atiku accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of pursuing an agenda aimed at weakening opposition parties and entrenching what he described as a creeping one-party system.
“Agents aligned with the Presidency are now attempting to destabilize the ADC from the outside—issuing reckless prescriptions about its internal affairs, particularly the choice of a presidential candidate,” the statement said.
He argued that recent public comments by individuals linked to the ruling party amounted to undue interference and were designed to create confusion within the ADC.
ADC Promises Open Presidential Contest
The former vice president noted that the ADC leadership has assured all aspirants of an open, transparent, and competitive process for selecting its presidential candidate.
According to him, all contenders would submit themselves to a properly constituted presidential convention when the time comes.
“Any call—overt or covert—for Atiku Abubakar to step aside is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people,” the statement added.
Criticism of Tinubu Administration
The statement criticised the economic and political direction of the Tinubu-led administration, describing the last few years as a difficult period for Nigerians.
It alleged that rising hardship, shrinking democratic space, and the systematic weakening of opposition parties have defined the current era.
According to Atiku, the dominance of the APC has been sustained not by performance but by the erosion of viable political alternatives.
ADC Positioned as Opposition Platform
Atiku described the ADC as a national rescue platform, saying patriotic leaders across party lines have rallied around it to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.
He welcomed the recent public declaration of ADC membership by Peter Obi in Enugu, describing it as a significant political development.
The statement alleged that reactions from some government officials following Obi’s move revealed fear within the ruling party.
“The ADC is determined to end the misfortune imposed by the Tinubu-led APC. No amount of intimidation, intrigue, or sabotage will derail this mission,” it said.
Atiku concluded by reaffirming that no aspirant would be forced out of the race and that all qualified contenders would be given equal opportunity to contest.
“Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight,” the statement added.
