No ADC Presidential Aspirant Will Step Down — Atiku

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says no presidential aspirant in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will withdraw from the party’s race ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement released on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said all qualified aspirants would participate freely when the ADC begins its presidential selection process.

He dismissed reports suggesting he was under pressure to step down in favour of a southern aspirant, describing such claims as part of a broader attempt to weaken the opposition.

Atiku accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of interfering in the internal affairs of the ADC, alleging that figures aligned with the presidency were working to destabilise the party ahead of the elections.

According to the statement, opposition leaders came together under the ADC to build what Atiku described as a credible national alternative to the ruling party.

“Agents aligned with the presidency are now attempting to interfere in the ADC’s internal processes, particularly regarding the choice of a presidential candidate,” the statement said. “The party’s mission is national recovery, and any call for Atiku Abubakar to step aside undermines that effort.”

He said the ADC would maintain an open and competitive process in choosing its flagbearer, stressing that the party remains open to all genuine opposition figures.

Atiku added that inclusiveness, rather than pressure or intimidation, was essential to democratic practice.

While insisting that no ADC aspirant would withdraw, Atiku said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not opposition figures, should consider stepping aside, describing his leadership as a burden on the country.

“When the time comes, all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely. No one is stepping down,” he said. “If anyone should step aside, it is President Tinubu, whose leadership has become a national liability.”

He further warned against external interference in the party’s affairs, saying the ADC would not allow intimidation or internal sabotage to derail its plans.

Atiku also criticised the current administration over economic hardship and what he described as a shrinking democratic space, accusing it of deliberately weakening opposition parties.

He said the APC’s continued dominance, despite what he termed policy failures, was the result of pressure on alternative political voices rather than public confidence.

According to him, the ADC is determined to challenge what he described as a growing push toward a one-party system and to defend Nigeria’s democratic process.