Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says no aspirant willwithdraw from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential race ahead ofthe 2027 elections. In a statement issued on Tuesday by Paul Ibe, his mediaadviser, Abubakar accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting tointimidate and weaken the opposition ahead of next year’s elections. He said all qualified aspirants would “present themselvesfreely” when the party begins its selection process. The former vice-president spoke amid reports that he wasunder pressure to step down for a southern aspirant to emerge as the ADC’sflagbearer. Abubakar said opposition leaders rallied around the ADC tobuild a credible national alternative to the ruling party. “Predictably, agents aligned with the presidency are nowattempting to destabilise the ADC from the outside—issuing recklessprescriptions about its internal affairs, particularly the choice of apresidential candidate,” the statement reads. “Let it be stated plainly: the ADC is on a national rescuemission. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside other committedpatriots, 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 Nigerianpeople.” Abubakar stressed that the ADC remained committed to “anopen, transparent, and competitive process” for selecting its flagbearer. He said the party is open to all genuine opposition figures,noting that “inclusiveness—not coercion—is the soul of democracy”. ‘TINUBU’S LEADERSHIP IS A NATIONAL LIABILITY’ While reiterating that no one in the party would step down,Abubakar said President Tinubu, whose leadership, he said, has become a“national liability”, should be the one to step down. “Disruptors and infiltrators must allow the party to do thisessential work without interference,” he said. “When the time comes, all qualified aspirants will presentthemselves freely. No one is stepping down. If anyone should step aside, it isPresident Tinubu — whose leadership has become a national liability. “Let there be no ambiguity: the ADC is determined to end themisfortune 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 definedby punishing economic policies and shrinking democratic space under PresidentBola Ahmed Tinubu”. “True to form, this administration has not only inflictedwidespread hardship but has also pursued a calculated effort to eliminatepolitical alternatives. The objective is clear: a creeping, de facto one-partystate,” he added. “Perhaps the Tinubu administration’s most disturbing‘achievement’ has been the systematic weakening of opposition parties, leavingthe All Progressives Congress—despite its manifest failures—standing alone bydefault, not by merit.”
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
