Only Tinubu Should Step Down As ‘National Liability’; Not Me Or Other ADC Chieftains — Atiku
A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed speculations that he could quit the race for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket, accusing Bola Tinubu of engineering a deliberate plot to weaken the opposition and establish a one-party state political system.
Atiku in a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe was reacting to growing speculation that he is under pressure to relinquish his ambition in favour of a southern candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Vice President called on Nigerians to resist what he said were sustained efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate, infiltrate, and destabilise the emerging opposition coalition rallying around the ADC.
His comments come days after former Anambra State governor and ex–Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, formally joined the ADC, further fuelling realignments within the opposition.
There have also been reports that Atiku may be exploring a joint ticket arrangement with former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in a bid to clinch the ADC presidential ticket.
However, Atiku dismissed any suggestion that he should step aside, insisting that such calls serve the interests of Tinubu rather than the Nigerian people.
“For nearly three years, Nigerians have endured one of the harshest periods in recent history, an era defined by punishing economic policies and shrinking democratic space under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Atiku said.
He accused the Tinubu administration of misgovernance and described it as a growing national liability, alleging that the Presidency was intentionally undermining opposition parties to secure an easy path to re-election.
“True to form, this administration has not only inflicted widespread hardship but has pursued a calculated effort to eliminate political alternatives. The objective is clear: a creeping, de facto one-party state,” he stated.
Atiku further claimed that the systematic weakening of opposition parties was Tinubu’s most disturbing achievement, arguing that the APC now stands dominant “by default, not by merit.”
