Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has warned president Bola Tinubu, against any move to postpone Nigeria’s next general election, insisting that the polls must go ahead and that voters will remove the ruling All Progressives Congress from power.
Atiku made the statement while addressing supporters at a political gathering, where he said he had heard claims that the APC wanted to shift the election date because of its experience in Kaduna.
“Now I hear that they want to shift the date of the election because of their Kaduna experience. Whatever it is, they must hold the election, and when they hold it, we will vote them out,” Atiku said.
His remarks come amid online reactions to videos from the APC Northwest zonal flag off held at Kaduna Township Stadium on October 24. The clips circulating online appear to show large sections of empty seats at the venue, which was reported to have a capacity of about 5,000 people.
Reports circulating alongside the videos allege that the party paid between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 to bring people from the seven Northwest states and other locations to attend the event.
Some attendees were also reported to have chanted a Hausa phrase interpreted by observers as a sign of rejection of the party.
Atiku’s comments have also drawn attention to concerns about whether Nigeria’s next general election could be affected by public health emergencies, following reports that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had discussed the possibility of postponement in the event of a serious Ebola outbreak.
The NCDC’s position on the matter is separate from Atiku’s claim about the APC and its experience in Kaduna.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has not announced a change to the election timetable.
The controversy comes as political parties prepare for the next general election, with campaign activities, public support and election preparations continuing to attract attention.
