Atiku Abubakar has said no candidate in the African Democratic Congress will withdraw from the party's presidential race ahead of the 2027 elections, dismissing reports that he is under pressure to step down for the southern candidate.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to weaken the opposition parties ahead of the elections.
He said the ADC will allow all eligible candidates to contest the elections freely once the party starts the candidate selection process, adding that no person will be forced to step down.
“At the appropriate time, all eligible candidates will present their views independently,” the statement said. “No one is quitting.”
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The former vice president spoke amid speculation that opposition leaders were urging him to make way for the southern flag bearer as part of a broader election count. He dismissed the claims, saying that opposition leaders had instead rallied around the ADC, which he described as a credible national alternative to the APC.
“Presumably, agents linked to the presidency are now attempting to destabilize the ADC from the outside,” the statement said, accusing them of interfering in the internal affairs of the party, particularly the presidential nomination process.
Atiku said the ADC is committed to an open, transparent and competitive process, and stressed that inclusivity, rather than pressure or coercion, should guide democratic participation.
He also used the statement to criticize the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing the government's leadership record as damaging and arguing that responsibility for Nigeria's current challenges lies with those in power.
“If anyone should step down, it is President Tinubu,” the statement said, accusing his administration of pursuing economic policies that have deepened difficulties and narrowed political space.
Atiku said the ADC intended to challenge the growing political dominance of the ruling party and warned that intimidation or sabotage would not derail the opposition's plans.
“Nigeria will not give up its democracy without a fight,” the statement said.
