2027: Atiku Declares Election Will Be Contest Between APC and Nigerians

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that the 2027 general election will be a straight contest between the All Progressives Congress and the Nigerian people, insisting that political defections do not translate into genuine public support for the ruling party.

Atiku, now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, made the declaration on Friday in response to the defection of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC.

Fintiri had announced his departure from the PDP earlier on Friday in a 14-minute statewide broadcast, describing the decision as being in the developmental interest of Adamawa State. He stated that he was moving to the APC along with his entire cabinet, all PDP officials in the state, and supporters across all 226 wards and 21 local government areas.

The governor was formally registered as an APC member with card number 001. His defection followed Wednesday’s movement of 15 out of 16 PDP members in the Adamawa State House of Assembly to the APC, including Speaker Bathiya Wesley.

Reacting to the development, Atiku noted that political realignments were not unprecedented and that every politician retained the right to choose their political path. He added that even members of his own family were entitled to hold independent political positions.

The statement from his media office read: “Every politician is free to choose a path. He respects that right. He added that even his children are free to take independent political positions. However, anyone  including his son  who chooses to stand with Nigerians rather than the APC is standing on the side of patriotism.”

Atiku characterized the wave of defections by opposition governors as evidence of pressure and intimidation rather than a demonstration of strength. He accused the Tinubu administration of weaponising state institutions to bully political opponents in what he described as an attempt to transform Nigeria into a one-party state.

“This government fears accountability. It fears credible elections. It fears the people,” he said.

The former vice president argued that no amount of coercion could erase the daily hardship faced by Nigerians, citing what he described as rising hunger, crushing poverty, worsening insecurity, and mass unemployment resulting from failed economic policies.

“Governors may defect for personal survival. Nigerians are defecting in their millions because they want survival,” Atiku said.

He urged citizens not to equate political cross-carpeting with popularity, questioning what the APC would campaign on in 2027.

“What will the APC campaign on in 2027 hunger? hardship? hopelessness?” he asked.

Atiku reminded Nigerians that political power ultimately belonged to them and urged against vote-selling.

“Do not trade your future. Do not mortgage your children’s tomorrow. In 2027, the people will have their say  and their will shall prevail,” he said.