Atiku reaffirms 2027 Presidential ambition, says ADC will shock the World

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reaffirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, dismissing speculations about a possible withdrawal.

Speaking through his former campaign spokesperson, Tunde Olusunle, Atiku declared that despite attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to downplay the momentum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the coalition party will spring a surprise in the next general election.

He stressed that Nigeria must be “decisively rescued” from what he described as the “intensive care unit” under the current administration, while condemning what he called the “unprecedented thievery, deceit, and lack of accountability” under President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Atiku, who recently aligned with the ADC to build a broader coalition, noted that the party was already mobilising Nigerians to challenge the dominance of both the APC and PDP. “ADC is leading a potent mass movement which will shock the world. We will upstage the status quo in a way that will leave doubters dumbstruck,” he maintained.

The former vice president also dismissed a recent statement credited to Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, who had represented him at a Lagos event, suggesting that Atiku was not desperate to become president. Atiku insisted the comments were not sanctioned by him, stressing that he remains fully committed to contesting in 2027.

“I did not issue that statement,” Atiku clarified. “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.”

Atiku’s position comes as other opposition figures, including former Anambra governor Peter Obi and former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, have declared interest in the ADC presidential ticket. While Atiku is positioning himself as the most experienced candidate, Obi has maintained he will not play a secondary role, while Amaechi is also expected to join the race.

Meanwhile, the presidency has continued to dismiss the ADC as inconsequential, claiming the coalition exists only on paper and lacks electoral weight.