Photo: Atiku Abubakar receiving flag of authority from David Mark, ADC National Chairman
By: Daniel Kanu
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accepted his nomination as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ahead of the next general election, declaring that it was time to “rescue” Nigeria from what he described as the “destructive grip” of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja after emerging victorious in the party’s presidential primary, Atiku said he was honoured by the confidence reposed in him by party delegates and members.
“I wish to express my profound appreciation for the privilege which you have bestowed on me of leading our great party, the African Democratic Congress, into the next elections as its presidential candidate,” he said.
The former vice president described the ADC as one of the few political parties in the country where democratic ideals were still upheld, insisting that the party had demonstrated transparency and fairness during its primary process.
“At a time democracy is being strangled and suppressed by the ruling party and its oppressive government, democracy is alive and well in the ADC,” Atiku stated.
He explained that the opposition coalition within the ADC was built on “hard work, sacrifices and compromises” aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, which he said faced its gravest threat since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
Atiku accused the APC-led Federal Government of orchestrating crises within opposition parties through alleged collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission and elements within the judiciary.
According to him, “virtually all opposition political parties in the country have leadership crises engineered by the APC government, INEC and elements in the judiciary.”
The ADC candidate also condemned what he described as the politically motivated detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that the former governor had remained in custody for months despite court orders granting him bail.
He further accused the government of using anti-corruption agencies and security institutions to intimidate opposition figures into defecting to the APC.
“The moment an opposition politician joins the APC, harassment stops and charges disappear. This abuse of state institutions must end,” Atiku alleged.
Warning against any attempt to undermine the ADC, the former vice president vowed that the party would resist interference from the Presidency, INEC or the judiciary.
“Enough is enough. Any further attempt to interfere in the affairs of our party will be fiercely resisted,” he declared.
Atiku, however, called for unity among party members and urged fellow contestants in the primary election to close ranks ahead of the national polls.
He specifically appealed to former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to join hands with the party in its bid to unseat the APC.
“There are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership, and I am ready to lead,” he said.
On insecurity, Atiku painted a grim picture of the country’s security situation, saying Nigeria was witnessing one of the worst waves of violence in its history, with civilians and security personnel being killed across several regions.
“Our people are being slaughtered in large numbers while the government has failed to act decisively,” he said.
He pledged that an ADC administration would prioritise security by recruiting more personnel into the armed forces, providing modern equipment, improving welfare packages and strengthening leadership within the security architecture.
The former vice president also criticised the Tinubu administration over the rising number of out-of-school children, which he estimated at over 20 million.
According to him, education remained the surest route to employment, economic growth and national development.
Atiku promised that, if elected, his government would introduce free and compulsory primary and secondary education while investing heavily in technology and entrepreneurship training for young Nigerians.
On the economy, the ADC candidate accused the APC government of deepening poverty and failing to account for funds saved from fuel subsidy removal.
He argued that while government officials continued to claim economic growth, ordinary Nigerians were grappling with worsening hardship and inflation.
“The poverty gripping Nigerians today is unprecedented. What is growing is the wealth of a few individuals around the corridors of power,” he said.
Atiku also criticised the Federal Government’s borrowing profile, alleging that billions of dollars in loans were being channelled into contracts awarded to political associates without due process or competitive bidding.
“The future of the younger generation is being mortgaged without accountability,” he said.
On healthcare, he faulted what he described as poor funding of the sector, promising that an ADC administration would make significant investments in primary healthcare and equip medical centres across the country.
He added that the party would soon unveil detailed policy documents and timelines to Nigerians ahead of the election campaign.
Atiku, who served as vice president between 1999 and 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has contested for the presidency multiple times under different political platforms.
His emergence as ADC candidate is expected to intensify political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties seeking to form stronger alliances against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC.
