Atiku Refuses to Step Down — And Says Tinubu Is Afraid of the Opposition
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has made one thing clear: he is not stepping down from the race for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket.
In a strongly worded statement released by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku dismissed growing calls for him to withdraw in favour of another candidate, describing such pressure as dangerous to democracy and beneficial only to the ruling party.
Atiku’s response comes amid rising political tension ahead of the 2027 general election, especially following the entry of Peter Obi into the ADC and speculations about possible power-sharing arrangements within the opposition.
Rather than retreat, Atiku went on the offensive.
He accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately weakening opposition parties to ensure an easy path to re-election. According to him, Nigeria is slowly drifting toward a de facto one-party state, not through popular support, but through intimidation, manipulation, and political sabotage.
“For nearly three years, Nigerians have endured severe economic hardship and a shrinking democratic space,” Atiku said, describing the Tinubu administration as a national liability rather than a national solution.
He argued that instead of addressing inflation, unemployment, and public frustration, the government has focused on destabilising political alternatives. In his view, this is why the ADC has become a target.
Atiku also rejected the idea that external voices — especially those aligned with the Presidency — should dictate who emerges as the ADC’s presidential candidate. He insisted that the party is committed to an open, transparent, and competitive process, and that no aspirant should be forced out through pressure or back-channel politics.
Importantly, he framed the ADC not as a personal platform, but as a “national rescue mission” formed to challenge what he called the failures of the current administration.
While the statement did not deny internal competition within the opposition, it warned that calls for Atiku to step aside amount to surrendering democratic choice and handing victory to authoritarian tendencies.
“If anyone should step aside,” Atiku said, “it is President Tinubu.”
The former Vice President also referenced recent public boasts by government officials following Peter Obi’s declaration of ADC membership, suggesting that the ruling party fears a united opposition more than it admits.
Atiku concluded by stating that intimidation, infiltration, and sabotage will not derail the ADC, and that Nigerians deserve a real alternative in 2027 — not an election decided by weakened opposition and manufactured consensus.
