Political Tensions Emerge as Atiku Abubakar Joins ADC
A fresh wave of political tension has swept through Nigeria following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency dismissed his candidacy as insignificant, characterizing the opposition coalition behind him as a group driven more by personal grievances than by a coherent political vision.
Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes in the primary election, defeating former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who received 504,117 and 177,120 votes respectively. However, the process sparked controversy, with Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejecting the voting conduct across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), claiming the exercise was flawed. They subsequently boycotted the result collation and declaration.
The APC reacted swiftly, asserting that Atiku’s candidacy does not pose a threat to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. The party emphasized that Nigerians would evaluate the next election based on performance rather than opposition realignments. This development also triggered backlash from opposition parties, who warned that Atiku’s renewed ambition could exacerbate tensions over Nigeria’s delicate power rotation between the North and South—a principle that has shaped presidential politics since 1999, even though it is not enshrined in the Constitution.
Opposition Concerns Over Power Rotation
The principle of power rotation has long been a stabilizing factor in Nigeria’s federal structure, often invoked by political parties and elite coalitions to justify regional representation on presidential tickets. Atiku’s emergence as the ADC flag bearer has reignited debates about this unwritten rule, particularly within opposition ranks, which are already grappling with internal fragmentation, ideological incoherence, and competing ambitions ahead of 2027.
The Presidency was the first to respond, dismissing Atiku’s candidacy as a continuation of a familiar pattern of presidential ambition that has defined his political career for over three decades. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Temitope Ajayi, described the coalition backing Atiku as an alliance driven not by ideology or governance vision but by resentment and exclusion from political power.
Ajayi argued that the opposition bloc lacked a coherent developmental agenda and instead represented a gathering of politicians motivated by personal grievances. He highlighted that Atiku has been chasing the presidency since 1992, contesting elections under multiple parties, including the Action Congress in 2007, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 and 2023, and as an aspirant in several other years.
He further criticized comparisons between Atiku’s 2027 ambition and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s successful 2015 bid, arguing that the political conditions that led to Buhari’s victory no longer exist. Ajayi insisted that Buhari benefited from a rare consolidation of opposition forces under a single platform, a unity that is absent in the current political landscape.
Criticism of Opposition Dynamics
Ajayi also pointed out that the coalition backing Atiku had collapsed under the weight of competing ambitions and lacked the ideological foundation necessary to challenge the ruling party. He noted that key figures like Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso had withdrawn from the coalition, weakening its structure.
He criticized opposition narratives around Peter Obi’s political trajectory, arguing that Obi had never independently secured a competitive party primary. Ajayi claimed that Obi had always been a “coronated” candidate, receiving tickets donated to him rather than winning them through internal competition.
Atiku, now 78, remains one of Nigeria’s most enduring political figures, having contested presidential elections and party primaries across multiple platforms since the early 1990s. His political journey has spanned the Social Democratic Party era of the aborted Third Republic, the Action Congress in 2007, and the PDP in both 2019 and 2023, where he lost to Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu respectively.
Despite repeated defeats, Atiku has maintained a consistent presence in Nigeria’s presidential contests, positioning himself as a leading opposition figure and coalition builder across multiple election cycles. His latest emergence under the ADC platform, however, has reignited long-standing debates over zoning, national unity, and political equity, particularly among opposition parties seeking to redefine their electoral strategy ahead of 2027.
Reactions from Other Parties
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP) were quick to criticize Atiku’s renewed ambition, describing it as politically insensitive and contrary to the unwritten principles of North-South power rotation. The SDP reaffirmed its internal zoning arrangement, stressing that its presidential ticket had been deliberately reserved for the South in line with its constitutional provisions.
The Labour Party took a sharper tone, describing Atiku’s insistence on contesting the 2027 election as provocative in light of prevailing national sentiments around power rotation. The party raised concerns over internal disputes within the ADC following allegations of irregularities in its presidential primary, suggesting that the coalition party was already facing credibility challenges.
APC’s Response
Meanwhile, the APC joined the debate, dismissing Atiku’s emergence as a reflection of inconsistency and political desperation. The ruling party insisted that Nigerians would ultimately base their 2027 decision on performance, stability, and continuity under President Bola Tinubu’s administration rather than opposition sentiment or coalition arrangements.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, maintained that voters would prioritize the Renewed Hope Agenda over what he described as emotional political realignments. He stated that the party was confident that Nigerians would look at the performance of the President and the promises made by the party before making their decisions.
Atiku’s Camp Responds
In a swift reaction, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the Presidency’s attempt to dismiss the emergence of Atiku as inconsequential only betrays its growing nervousness. Shaibu noted that a government truly confident of its performance would not devote precious time and energy to monitoring and attacking the opposition barely hours after a primary election.
Shaibu further described as dishonest the Presidency’s claim that the ADC coalition was merely a gathering of “aggrieved politicians.” According to him, what truly fuels the movement is the collective frustration of ordinary Nigerians abandoned by a government that has perfected the art of propaganda while citizens sink deeper into suffering.
Shaibu also clarified his principal’s visit to Amaechi, at his Abuja residence, less than 24 hours after emerging as the presidential candidate of the ADC. A political associate of the former VP, Dele Momodu, disclosed details of the visit in a post on Instagram on Thursday, describing it as part of efforts to unite the party after the contentious exercise.
“In an effort to unify party ranks after the ADC presidential primaries, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and other party leaders visited His Excellency Rotimi Amaechi at his Abuja residence for strategic consultations,” Momodu wrote.
Providing further insight into the meeting, Shaibu said the engagement was aimed at fostering unity and discussing issues affecting the country. “It was purely a brotherly and statesman-like meeting between two leaders who share a common concern about the worsening condition of the country and the urgent need for patriotic engagement at this critical time in our national life,” he said.
According to him, Atiku also used the opportunity to celebrate Amaechi on his birthday while both leaders exchanged views on the state of the nation. “His Excellency Atiku Abubakar used the opportunity to felicitate with Chief Rotimi Amaechi on his birthday and also exchange views on national issues, particularly the economy, insecurity, and the broader future of Nigeria,” he added.
Shaibu further stated that discussions centred on the need for collaboration within the party following the conclusion of the presidential primary. “Atiku emphasized during the meeting that the progress of Nigeria and the collective task of solving the myriad problems confronting the nation are far more important than who won or lost the party primaries. He reminded all stakeholders that, ultimately, they are all winners united by a common objective of rescuing Nigeria and rebuilding hope for Nigerians,” he said.
Political observers, however, described the meeting as an early reconciliation move by the former Vice President to consolidate support within the ADC ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 presidential race.
