The Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress on Thursday downplayed the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general election, describing the opposition coalition backing him as a gathering of aggrieved politicians rather than a movement driven by ideas.
Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes at the ADC presidential primary to defeat former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who polled 504,117 and 177,120 votes respectively.
The primary election, however, sparked controversy after Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the conduct of the exercise across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alleging irregularities in the process. Both aspirants later boycotted the collation and announcement of the results.
Reacting to Atiku’s emergence, the Presidency insisted that the former Vice President posed no electoral threat to President Bola Tinubu, maintaining that Nigerians would judge the 2027 election based on performance rather than opposition alliances.
The development also reignited debates over Nigeria’s long-standing but unwritten power rotation arrangement between the North and South, a principle many political actors regard as essential to maintaining balance in the country’s political system.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, dismissed the ADC coalition as an alliance lacking ideology and developmental vision.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Ajayi described Atiku as a “perennial contestant” in Nigeria’s presidential race, noting that the former Vice President had pursued the presidency since 1992.
“Atiku is welcomed. It is a familiar terrain for him. He has been chasing this presidential ambition since 1992,” Ajayi said.
“He has been a candidate in three elections and an aspirant several times. But he doesn’t pose any threat to President Tinubu’s election.”
Ajayi further argued that the coalition backing Atiku had already weakened following the exit of key opposition figures, including Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to him, the coalition was built around personal grievances rather than national development goals.
“They are not contesting anything with Tinubu on ideas, philosophy or developmental vision,” he added.
Ajayi also rejected comparisons between Atiku’s 2027 ambition and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s successful 2015 bid, insisting that Buhari benefited from a united opposition coalition, unlike the current situation.
He further criticised Peter Obi’s political trajectory, claiming the former Anambra governor had never independently won a competitive party primary.
Atiku, 78, remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures, having contested presidential elections under different political platforms since the early 1990s.
His emergence on the ADC platform has, however, triggered criticism from other opposition parties over concerns surrounding the North-South zoning arrangement.
The Social Democratic Party reaffirmed that its presidential ticket remained zoned to the South in line with its constitution.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the arrangement was aimed at promoting fairness, equity and national cohesion.
Similarly, the Labour Party described Atiku’s renewed presidential ambition as politically insensitive.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Ken Asogwa, the party argued that while the Constitution permits Atiku to contest, political morality and sensitivity should guide such ambitions in a fragile federation like Nigeria.
The Labour Party also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the ADC primary and maintained that it remained the most credible opposition platform ahead of the 2027 election.
Meanwhile, the APC maintained that Nigerians would evaluate the performance of Tinubu’s administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda rather than opposition sentiment.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described Atiku’s emergence as evidence of political inconsistency and desperation.
“We are confident Nigerians are going to evaluate the performance of the President and the party,” Ibrahim said.
“Atiku’s emergence shows inconsistency and failure of integrity.”
Responding, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the Presidency’s reaction reflected growing anxiety within the ruling party.
According to him, Nigerians battling hunger, insecurity and economic hardship would ultimately determine who constitutes a political threat in 2027.
“The truth is that Nigerians themselves — not presidential spokesmen — will determine in 2027 who poses a threat to whom,” Shaibu said.
He also dismissed claims that the ADC coalition was merely made up of aggrieved politicians, insisting that the movement was driven by widespread frustration over economic hardship and insecurity.
Shaibu further clarified Atiku’s visit to Amaechi at his Abuja residence shortly after the primary election, describing the meeting as a reconciliation effort aimed at strengthening unity within the ADC.
According to him, both leaders discussed the state of the nation, particularly the economy, insecurity and the future of Nigeria.
Political observers, however, described the meeting as an early move by Atiku to consolidate support within the ADC ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 presidential race.
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