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“2027: Atiku, Obi, Aregbesola Say Voters, Not Incumbents, Will Decide Election”.
ABUJA— Opposition leaders have declared that the 2027 general elections will not be determined by incumbency, control of state power, or waves of political defections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
They argued that the real determinants will be voter choice, opposition unity, and the integrity of the electoral process.
The statement was made during the public launch of The Loyalist, a memoir by Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Abuja on Wednesday. The event attracted a wide mix of opposition leaders, former public office holders, lawmakers, intellectuals, and party stakeholders.
Speakers included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; former Minister of Interior and ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola; former Senate President and ADC National Chairman David Mark; and veteran columnist Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who reviewed the book.
Though convened as a book launch, the gathering took on a strong political tone, with speakers repeatedly emphasizing opposition unity, leadership responsibility, and the limits of incumbency power ahead of the 2027 elections.
Rauf Aregbesola addressed what he called a growing misconception in Nigerian politics, arguing that governors and incumbents do not automatically guarantee electoral victory. Drawing on the 2023 elections, he noted that political officeholders do not necessarily determine outcomes.
“The defection of certain governors to the APC shows our unity is weakened, but the evidence does not support the idea that governors win elections,” Aregbesola said, citing the South-West as an example. Despite the APC controlling nearly all states in the region, its maximum performance was only 55%, with other parties sharing the remaining votes.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, special guest of honor, linked the political moment to the theme of the book, describing loyalty as both a moral test and a personal burden in public life. He praised Abdullahi for addressing difficult questions of conscience and political loyalty.
Atiku reflected on his own experiences, saying, “Many of us have suffered because of loyalty. I have faced exile and survived assassination attempts as a result. Loyalty should strengthen the common goal, not narrow the circle of belonging.”
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, arriving late due to flight delays, emphasized political solidarity and regional commitment, assuring: “I have been directed to represent the South-East, and I want to assure you that you will not be disappointed.”
Author Bolaji Abdullahi called on opposition leaders to rise above rivalry and present a united front ahead of 2027, warning that while Nigerians are ready for change, political leaders are yet to match that urgency. “Nigerians look at us and see different enclaves, competition rather than cooperation,” he said.
Reviewer Hakeem Baba-Ahmed described the memoir as revealing and historically significant, noting it “captures the essence of our contemporary social and political character.”
Former Senate President David Mark commended Abdullahi’s integrity and clarified the longstanding controversy surrounding the Doctrine of Necessity, stressing that it was the sole responsibility of the Senate and not linked to Kwara State.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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