Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to select a presidential candidate with competence, courage, and national appeal for the 2027 elections. He emphasized that the choice must go beyond political exercise and represent a historic responsibility.
Atiku's Call for Competence
In a statement released on Sunday, May 24, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku stressed that the ADC must choose a leader capable of rescuing Nigeria from economic collapse and institutional decay. He warned against political experimentation, stating that Nigeria cannot afford a presidency where the leader learns on the job.
Atiku noted that this is a defining election for the party, requiring a candidate with national acceptability, political resilience, tested structures, and the ability to unify diverse interests into a winning coalition. He pointed to his own track record as Vice President during a reform-oriented economic period as evidence of his preparedness.
Strategic Thinking Over Sentiment
The 2023 presidential candidate cautioned against sentiment-driven decisions, asserting that elections are not won on social media enthusiasm alone. He described governance as not performance art and the presidency as no platform for improvisation. Atiku urged the ADC to present its strongest, most credible, and most prepared candidate, not merely the loudest.
He called for a strategy to defeat a deeply entrenched incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and urged delegates to rise above narrow calculations. "The choice before ADC delegates is not merely about ambition. It is about destiny," Atiku said.
Peter Obi on ADC Alliance Failure
Recall that Peter Obi denied claims that he was avoiding Atiku ahead of the 2027 election. Speaking at the Spier Dialogue 2026 in South Africa, Obi described Atiku as a respected leader and elder brother. He explained that internal disputes and legal battles contributed to his decision to leave the ADC coalition.
Amaechi Confident of Winning ADC Ticket
Meanwhile, Rotimi Amaechi expressed confidence in winning the ADC presidential ticket against Atiku for the 2027 elections. In an interview, Amaechi challenged Atiku's primary success record, emphasizing electability over internal victories. The ADC earlier announced committees for its presidential primaries, aiming for transparency and credible democracy.
