APC Endorsement Shows Panic, Desperation Not Strength – Atiku Slams Tinubu’s 2027 Backing

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a desperate move by a ruling party that is “clearly in panic mode.”

Reacting to the endorsement made during the APC National Summit in Abuja, where party governors and leaders of the National Assembly declared Tinubu the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, Atiku said such declarations are premature and tone-deaf to the realities Nigerians are facing.

In a statement delivered by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku said, **“These endorsements show how jittery the APC has become. The endorsement shows panic, not strength.”**

He added that the ruling party should be focused on addressing the country’s pressing issues—including rising insecurity, economic hardship, and a worsening standard of living—rather than engaging in political posturing.

“When you’ve prepared diligently for an exam, you can sleep soundly the night before, waking up assured of success. That’s the position of our coalition,” Ibe said. “Nigerians are the ultimate judges. Their endorsements will determine the outcome, not the political manoeuvrings of the ruling party.”

Atiku’s camp pointed to growing public frustration, citing high inflation, increasing school fees, and renewed insurgent activity in parts of the country.

“As families struggle with the cost of living, healthcare, and education, the government is focused on consolidating political power instead of addressing these challenges,” Ibe noted.