Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has declared that no aspirant will step down from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential race ahead of the 2027 elections.
Atiku accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to weaken and intimidate the opposition in advance of next year’s elections in a statement released on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe.
He stated that when the party starts its selection process, all eligible candidates will “present themselves freely.”
The former vice president made his remarks amid rumours that he was being pressured to resign so that a candidate from the South might become the ADC’s flagbearer.
Abubakar said opposition leaders rallied around the ADC to build a credible national alternative to the ruling party.
“Predictably, agents aligned with the presidency are now attempting to destabilise the ADC from the outside—issuing reckless prescriptions about its internal affairs, particularly the choice of a presidential candidate,” the statement reads.
“Let it be stated plainly: the ADC is on a national rescue mission. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside other committed patriots, is central to this effort. Any call — overt or covert — for Atiku to ‘step aside’ is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.”
Abubakar emphasised that the ADC was still dedicated to choosing its flagbearer through “an open, transparent, and competitive process.”
He stated that “inclusiveness—not coercion—is the soul of democracy” and that the party welcomes all legitimate opposition figures.
‘TINUBU’S LEADERSHIP IS A NATIONAL LIABILITY’
Atiku stated that President Tinubu should resign because his leadership has turned into a “national liability,” but he reiterated that no one in the party would.
“Disruptors and infiltrators must allow the party to do this essential work without interference,” he said.
“When the time comes, all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely. No one is stepping down. If anyone should step aside, it is President Tinubu — whose leadership has become a national liability.
“Let there be no ambiguity: the ADC is determined to end the misfortune imposed by the Tinubu-led APC. No amount of intimidation, intrigue, or sabotage will derail this rescue mission.
“Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight.”
He lamented that Nigerians are suffering in “an era defined by punishing economic policies and shrinking democratic space under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
“True to form, this administration has not only inflicted widespread hardship but has also pursued a calculated effort to eliminate political alternatives. The objective is clear: a creeping, de facto one-party state,” he added.
“Perhaps the Tinubu administration’s most disturbing ‘achievement’ has been the systematic weakening of opposition parties, leaving the All Progressives Congress—despite its manifest failures—standing alone by default, not by merit.”
Join Our Social Media Channels:
