By Andrew Haruna | Nigeria News Today
Abuja, Nigeria — The Bureau News: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has restated his commitment to contest the 2027 presidential election, dismissing reports suggesting he might withdraw from the race.
Atiku, who is now a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said on Sunday that the coalition he is spearheading will “shock the world” in 2027, despite efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to downplay its strength.
“The accompanying deceit, the loss of values, the mega-scale, unimpeded thievery and the absolute lack of accountability must disturb every concerned patriot. I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland,” Atiku was quoted by his former spokesperson, Tunde Olusunle, as saying after conferring with him.
Atiku, who has contested for Nigeria’s top job multiple times, emphasized that the coalition under the ADC is building momentum to provide a third-force alternative outside the dominance of the APC and PDP.
Coalition Politics and Rivalry
The ADC, which has recently attracted heavyweight politicians, is positioning itself as a strong platform for opposition figures ahead of 2027. Alongside Atiku, Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, and Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, have all been linked to the party’s presidential ticket.
While Atiku has branded himself as the most experienced contender, Obi has insisted that he would not play a secondary role, and Amaechi has hinted at formally entering the race.
Atiku, however, insisted his ambition is not driven by personal gain but by a need to rescue Nigeria from worsening hardship.
Clarification on Controversial Remarks
The former Vice President also distanced himself from comments credited to Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, who had suggested at a Lagos event that Atiku was not fixated on becoming President.
“I did not issue that statement,” Atiku clarified from his holiday home in the UAE. “When people stand in for me at events, we preview my thoughts on the subject. In this particular instance, there was no engagement with me to distill my thoughts. Prof Olateju was not speaking for me.”
“Nigeria Needs Urgent Rescue”
Atiku maintained that Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration is in “intensive care”, citing rising poverty, corruption, and insecurity.
“I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned. The degeneration in our country, the level of poverty and pain, the anguish, is unacceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, the presidency has repeatedly mocked the ADC, describing it as “non-existent” and incapable of influencing Nigeria’s political landscape.
Political analysts, however, argue that the coalition could reshape the opposition space if it sustains its momentum.
