Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has firmly ruled out any possibility of withdrawing from the 2027 presidential contest.
Atiku made the position known in a statement released on Tuesday by his media aide, Paul Ibe. The statement, titled “Nigeria’s Democracy Under Siege: Opposition Faces Existential Threat,” accused the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of interfering in the internal processes of the ADC, particularly in the selection of its presidential candidate.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pursuing an agenda aimed at weakening opposition parties and entrenching a de facto one-party state in Nigeria.
According to the statement, Atiku is not the only aspirant seeking the ADC presidential ticket, as former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former APC presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi, have also indicated interest.
Atiku alleged that individuals aligned with the Presidency were attempting to destabilize the ADC by issuing what he described as “reckless prescriptions” on the party’s internal affairs, especially regarding its choice of flagbearer.
He, however, emphasized that all aspirants for the ADC ticket would submit themselves to a presidential convention, noting that the party’s national leadership had assured members of an open, transparent, and competitive selection process.
The statement warned that any suggestion for Atiku to step aside amounted to undermining democratic principles and aiding authoritarian tendencies.
“For nearly three years, Nigerians have endured one of the most difficult periods in recent history, marked by harsh economic policies and a shrinking democratic space under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement said.
It further accused the Tinubu administration of deliberately weakening opposition parties, leaving the APC dominant “not by merit, but by default.”
According to Atiku, concerned political leaders rallied around the ADC as a credible national alternative to resist what he described as the erosion of democratic norms.
The former Vice President stressed that the ADC was focused on building its grassroots structures nationwide and cautioned against external interference, intimidation, or sabotage.
He reaffirmed that the party remains open to all genuine opposition figures and that inclusiveness, rather than coercion, remains the foundation of democracy.
“At the appropriate time, all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely. No one is stepping down,” the statement declared, adding that if anyone should step aside, it should be President Tinubu, whom Atiku described as a “national liability.”
The statement also referenced the recent public declaration of ADC membership by Peter Obi in Enugu, claiming it triggered fears within the ruling party, as evidenced by alleged threats from government officials to undermine the ADC.
Atiku insisted that the ADC is determined to challenge the APC-led government and restore democratic governance, declaring that Nigeria’s democracy would not be surrendered without resistance.
