Former vice president of Nigeria and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the reports that he has agreed to step down for a southern presidential candidate in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The media team of the former vice president on the 9th of July, 2025 released a statement to refute the claim that Atiku Abubakar held a meeting with some southern politicians where he agreed to forgo his 2027 presidential ambition necessary for a southern candidate to fly the ADC presidential flag in 2027.
According to the statement released, the claim in the section of the media that Atiku Abubakar has agreed to step down for a southern candidate is “laughable and a desperate attempt” by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to distract the members of the coalition party, ADC who are in high spirits and better positioned to wrestle power from the underperforming administration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in 2027.
The Atiku Abubakar’s media team claim that the ruling APC has been plunged into pannick and has resorted desperately seeking to sow seed of disgust among the members of the coalition party.
The statement further explained that Atiku Abubakar never participated in a meeting where such an issue of his stepping down for a Southern candidate was discussed. Hence, the report is described as being fictional fabrication by the ruling party who appear rattled by the acceptance of the ADC by the vast majority of Nigerians in the face of its underperforming government.
Recall that the presidency had its response to the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition party claimed that the coalition is more vulnerable to failing than succeeding in its quest. According to presidential spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, the ADC is will collapse in next six months due to conflict of interest among its prominent members comprising Atiku Abubaka,Rauf Aregbesola, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Abubakar Malami, Nasir El-rufai and host of other prominent Nigerian politicians.
With president Bola Ahmed Tinubu succeeding Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, political analysts and commentators argue that the ADC in respect to the unwritten zoning pattern of the country, should field a southern presidential candidate in 2027 as president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a southerner has spent only a single tenure in office.
In response to this arrangement, major southern presidential aspirants in ADC such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi have proposed single tenure presidency to the ADC leadership. However, former vice president Atiku Abubakar who is known for his stellar record in presidential primary elections as well as his frequent feature in the Nigeria’s presidential elections is unlikely to yield to a southerner picking the ADC presidential ticket at his expense.
Consequently, the members of the Obidient movement have through their social media agitations made their stance known. According to the leadership of the Obidient movement, they will only be party and support ADC only the ground that Peter Obi is given the ADC’s presidential ticket for 2027.
Peter Obi who appears to resonate with the vast majority of the Nigerian youths, has also assured his supporters that he will be on ballot in 2027; this, has create uncertainty over the future of the ADC and the feasibility of the coalition.
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