Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that no presidential aspirant will step down in the African Democratic Congress ADC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku made this known on Tuesday in a statement issued through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, stressing that all aspirants would be given the opportunity to present themselves freely in the party’s presidential race.
He also called on Nigerians to resist what he described as attempts by the All Progressives Congress APC to intimidate and weaken opposition parties.
The statement followed speculation that Atiku was under pressure to withdraw from the race in favour of a Southern candidate to emerge as the ADC’s presidential flagbearer against President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku dismissed such speculation, arguing that if any candidate should step aside, it should be President Tinubu, whom he described as a growing national liability.
“For nearly three years, Nigerians have endured one of the harshest periods in recent history, an era defined by punishing economic policies and shrinking democratic space under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
