Amid demands from Obidients for presidential aspirants in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to step aside for Peter Obi, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has rejected the call, insisting that no candidate in the coalition will withdraw for another.
Atiku’s stance was outlined in a statement on Tuesday, signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, following remarks from Obi’s supporters, including Prof Pat Utomi and Aisha Yesufu, who dismissed the idea of Obi taking a Vice Presidential slot within the coalition.
Describing such calls as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, Atiku said: “Any call—overt or covert—for Atiku to ‘step aside’ is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.”
He also accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of restricting democratic space and deliberately weakening opposition parties in a bid to create what he described as a “creeping, de facto one-party state.” According to Atiku, Nigerians have endured nearly three years of harsh economic policies and shrinking political freedoms, while the APC has sought to suppress alternatives through systematic pressure on opposition forces.
Atiku stressed that the ADC was formed as a platform to resist these trends and provide Nigerians with a credible political alternative. He further alleged that individuals aligned with the Presidency are attempting to interfere in the party’s internal affairs, particularly the selection of its presidential candidate.
“Let it be stated plainly: the ADC is on a national rescue mission,” the statement said, emphasizing the party’s commitment to an “open, transparent, and competitive process” for choosing its flagbearer. Atiku warned against external interference, adding, “APC proxies and external meddlers have no standing to intimidate, blackmail, or sabotage this democratic resolve.”
He noted that the party is focused on strengthening grassroots structures nationwide and urged “disruptors and infiltrators” to allow the process to continue without obstruction.
Declaring that all qualified aspirants would have the opportunity to contest, Atiku said emphatically: “No one is stepping down.” He added that if anyone should consider stepping aside, it should be President Tinubu, whom he called “a national liability.”
The former vice president concluded by reaffirming that the ADC is determined to challenge the ruling party and “end the misfortune imposed by the Tinubu-led APC.”