Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that Nigerians, not political parties, would decide the outcome of the highly anticipated 2027 presidential election against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement released on Friday, Atiku made this claim in response to the current flood of members defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recall that notable figures in the PDP including former governor of Delta state, Okowa and current serving governor of Delta state who is also Atiku’s running mate Sheriff Oborevwori on Wednesday defected from to APC ahead of 2027.
Responding to this, Atiku said, “freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy,” stating that “they are fundamental rights.
“Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society: the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.
“As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again”.
The former vice president spoke about how many had resorted to the usage of insults by in response to his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape.
“During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely — including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida. So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna? If you truly believe in freedom of association, then you must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines”, he said.
“Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.
“This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments.
“These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer” he added.
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