2027: ADC Assures Nigerians Atiku Won’t Be Absentee President If Elected

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has assured Nigerians that its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, would provide an accessible and responsive presidency if elected in the 2027 presidential election. The council made the statement on Monday in Abuja while receiving members of the Atiku Unity Movement.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, gave the assurance during a meeting with a delegation led by the leader of the Atiku Unity Movement, Francis Eburuwe.

Ologbondiyan said the campaign council believed Atiku had a strong understanding of Nigeria’s economic and social challenges and had previously presented policies aimed at addressing them.

He referred to Atiku’s position during the 2023 presidential campaign on the removal of fuel subsidy, saying the former vice president had proposed a gradual approach to reduce the effect of the policy on Nigerians.

The ADC spokesman said the economic difficulties experienced in recent years had increased the need for a presidency that was available to respond to national issues and make decisions when required.

He said the campaign council’s view was that Atiku would remain physically engaged in governance and would focus on the country’s economic problems, citizens’ welfare and public confidence in government institutions.

Ologbondiyan also pointed to Atiku’s recent economic proposals, particularly those aimed at reducing the pressure created by rising energy and living costs.

Among the proposals attributed to Atiku is a production-based intervention for petroleum products refined locally. The plan reportedly includes a spending limit, approval by the National Assembly and independent auditing of the process.

The proposal has faced criticism from the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, which has questioned its legal and financial basis as well as its relationship with provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Earlier, the leader of the Atiku Unity Movement delegation, Francis Eburuwe, said his organisation remained committed to Atiku’s presidential campaign and planned to mobilise support across the country ahead of the 2027 election.

Eburuwe said members of the movement would take Atiku’s campaign message to Nigerians in different parts of the country. He also expressed the group’s belief that an Atiku administration would address some of the challenges facing the nation and improve citizens’ welfare.

He pledged the movement’s support for the ADC campaign and urged its members to continue grassroots mobilisation ahead of the general election.

The development comes amid political debate over President Bola Tinubu’s continued stay outside Nigeria. Tinubu left the country on August 30 for an initially announced three-week working vacation, which was later extended by several days. As of September 28, the Presidency had said he would return during the week.

The President’s absence has drawn comments from opposition figures, including Atiku, while the Presidency has maintained that Tinubu has continued to perform his official duties while abroad.

The ADC campaign council’s latest assurance about Atiku’s proposed style of governance comes as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations and public engagements ahead of the 2027 presidential election.