Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said the African Democratic Congress must present a competent and experienced candidate capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges and institutional decline ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the choice before delegates of the ADC goes beyond politics, describing it as a historic responsibility.
According to him, the ADC was founded on the principles of transparency, accountability, inclusion and democratic renewal, stressing that Nigeria needs a leader prepared to govern from day one.
He said, “At a time when Nigeria is bleeding from every pore—crippled by economic hardship, insecurity, rising debt, institutional failure, and deepening hopelessness—the question before the ADC is simple: who has the capacity not merely to campaign, but to govern effectively from day one?
“This is not a season for political experimentation. Nigeria cannot afford a learning-on-the-job presidency.”
Atiku argued that Nigeria’s current challenges require tested leadership with executive experience, economic understanding and national appeal.
“Nigeria today needs a president who understands governance not as theory, but as lived responsibility.
“It needs someone who has negotiated globally, created jobs through enterprise, managed national crises, built coalitions, and consistently articulated a practical roadmap for economic recovery and national renewal,” he stated.
The former vice president also urged ADC delegates to prioritise competence over sentiment as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
“At this defining moment, ADC delegates must ask themselves a simple but profound question: do we want to make a statement, or do we want to make a President?
“Nigeria is not merely facing economic hardship; it is grappling with the devastating consequences of catastrophic economic choices, deepening insecurity, and institutional decay. This is not the season for sentiment or political experimentation,” Atiku said.
He added that while others may rely on rhetoric and slogans, he possesses the institutional memory and experience needed to lead effectively.
“Elections are not won on social media enthusiasm alone. Governance is not performance art. The presidency is not a platform for improvisation.
“The ADC must present to Nigerians its strongest, most credible, most prepared candidate—not merely its loudest,” he stated.
Atiku further cited his tenure as vice president between 1999 and 2007 as evidence of his preparedness for leadership.
“The economic reforms that helped reposition Nigeria, the privatisation drive that opened sectors, the fiscal discipline that contributed to debt relief, and the governance reforms of that era were not accidents.
“They were products of leadership, competence, and courage,” Atiku stated.
The former presidential candidate maintained that defeating an incumbent government would require strategic planning, political resilience and broad national support.
“The ADC must think beyond sentiment. It must think about victory. It must think about governance. It must think about Nigeria,” he said.
“This is a defining election. The party needs a candidate with national acceptability, political resilience, tested structures, and the capacity to unify disparate interests into one winning coalition.”
He concluded by urging delegates to choose competence and leadership capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
“History will remember this moment. The choice before ADC delegates is not merely about ambition. It is about destiny. Nigeria deserves rescue, not rhetoric,” he said.
PUNCH Online reports that the primary, fixed for May 25, 2026, will see Atiku competing against former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Northern Nigeria Development Company boss, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
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