Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially confirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, asserting that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition he is helping to lead will challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and shake Nigeria’s political establishment.
Atiku made the declaration through his spokesperson, Tunde Olusunle, who spoke with THISDAY on Sunday. He dismissed any suggestions that he might withdraw from the race, stating unequivocally that Nigeria must be “decisively rescued from the intensive care unit” it has been placed in under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The former vice president criticized the current government, pointing to what he described as “mega-scale thievery,” a breakdown in national values, and a complete lack of accountability. He said these conditions have created an urgent need for leadership focused on national recovery and reconstruction.
“I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland,” Atiku was quoted as saying.
Atiku, a former leading figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now at the forefront of an emerging political coalition under the ADC banner. Although relatively small in past elections, the ADC is now home to prominent political heavyweights aiming to mount a serious challenge to the two-party dominance of the PDP and APC.
Despite recent by-elections not producing significant results for the ADC, Atiku insisted the coalition is building momentum and preparing for a major upset in 2027.
“The ADC is leading a potent mass movement which will shock the world,” he said. “We will upstage the status quo in a way which will leave doubters dumbstruck.”
In a related development, Atiku rejected recent reports suggesting he may step aside to support another candidate. Those claims followed a statement attributed to Professor Ola Olateju, who represented Atiku at a recent event in Lagos marking the defection of several political figures to the ADC. Olateju had suggested that Atiku’s priority was building a better Nigeria rather than occupying the presidency.
Atiku, speaking from his holiday residence in the UAE, distanced himself from that message, clarifying that Olateju did not consult him beforehand.
“I did not issue that statement,” Atiku said. “When people represent me at events, we always align on the message. That did not happen in this case.”
He reiterated his intention to run, stating, “I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned. The level of poverty, pain, and anguish is unacceptable.”
Atiku faces internal competition within the ADC coalition, with former Anambra Governor Peter Obi and former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi also positioning themselves for the party’s presidential ticket. While Atiku emphasizes his experience, Obi has stated he will not play a secondary role, and Amaechi has hinted at a potential run.
Meanwhile, the Tinubu-led presidency has repeatedly dismissed the ADC coalition as politically irrelevant, branding it a paper alliance with no electoral substance. However, Atiku remains confident that the coalition’s growing strength and public support will prove otherwise as 2027 approaches.
