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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he will not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, insisting that calls for him to step aside are unacceptable.
Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and current presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the declaration in a statement released on Wednesday. The statement was signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe.
Titled “Nigeria’s Democracy Under Siege: Opposition Faces Existential Threat,” the statement accused the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of interfering in the internal affairs of the ADC, particularly in the process of selecting its presidential candidate.
Allegations of Political Interference
According to Atiku, agents allegedly aligned with President Bola Tinubu are attempting to destabilise the ADC by making “reckless prescriptions” about the party’s internal processes, especially the choice of its presidential flagbearer.
He further accused the President of plotting to impose a one-party state on Nigeria, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to the country’s democracy.
ADC Presidential Ticket Race
Investigations show that Atiku is not the only major contender for the ADC ticket. Other prominent politicians who have indicated interest include:
- Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP)
- Rotimi Amaechi, former presidential aspirant on the APC platform
Atiku noted that all aspirants would submit themselves to the party’s presidential convention, stressing that the ADC leadership has assured aspirants of an open, transparent, and competitive selection process.
“I Will Not Step Aside”
The former Vice President firmly rejected any suggestion that he should withdraw from the race, stating that “any call—overt or covert—for Atiku to step aside is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to the democratic process and his determination to contest for the presidency in 2027.
