The Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have dismissed the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that he poses no serious threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to reports, Atiku secured the ADC presidential ticket after polling 1,846,370 votes to defeat former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen during the party’s primary election.
The primary, however, reportedly sparked controversy after Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the conduct of the exercise, alleging irregularities and flaws in the voting process across several states.
Reacting to Atiku’s emergence, presidential aides reportedly argued that Nigerians would judge the 2027 election based on the Tinubu administration’s performance rather than opposition coalitions or political alliances.
The Presidency also described Atiku’s renewed presidential ambition as a familiar political pattern, stating that the opposition coalition lacks the unity that helped former President Muhammadu Buhari defeat the PDP in 2015.
Meanwhile, Atiku has reportedly moved to reconcile with Amaechi following the disputed primary, with both politicians meeting in Abuja for consultations aimed at preserving unity within the ADC coalition.
Atiku’s media aide, Phrank Shaibu, said the meeting focused on strengthening the opposition alliance and discussing strategies for confronting Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
The development has also reignited debates over power rotation between Nigeria’s North and South, with some political stakeholders arguing that the presidency should remain in the South after Tinubu’s first term.
Political observers say the evolving alliances, internal disputes, and coalition talks could significantly shape the country’s political landscape as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
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