Atiku Abubakar Rejects Calls to Step Down from ADC Presidential Race, Accuses Tinubu of Undermining Opposition
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed suggestions that he should withdraw from the contest for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to weaken opposition forces.
In a statement released on Tuesday by his media aide Paul Ibe, Atiku said no aspirant in the ADC will step aside for another candidate, insisting the party must uphold an “open, transparent and competitive process” in selecting its flagbearer. He described any call for him to step down as “a gift to authoritarian ambition” and a betrayal of Nigerians who seek genuine democratic choice.
Atiku also criticised the Tinubu administration for what he described as “shrinkage of democratic space” and economic hardship over the past three years, arguing that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has sought to systematically weaken opposition parties to pave the way for an unchallenged political dominance.
Addressing speculation about internal pressure within the opposition coalition, including calls from some quarters pushing for former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi to take the presidential ticket, Atiku reiterated that all qualified aspirants should compete freely when the time comes — and that none will be forced to exit the race.
The former vice president framed the ADC as central to efforts to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative to the ruling party, urging citizens to resist “intimidation, manipulation, or sabotage” that could derail the opposition’s mission. He went further to suggest that if anyone should step aside from the presidential contest, it should be President Tinubu, whom he labelled a “national liability.”
Atiku’s remarks come amid ongoing political realignments and heightened competition among opposition figures seeking to unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 polls.