The Presidency and the All Progressives Congress on Thursday reacted to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, saying it does not pose any real challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s chances.
Atiku won the party’s primary with 1,846,370 votes, defeating former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who scored 504,117 votes, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who got 177,120 votes. The outcome has continued to generate reactions, especially after Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the process and stayed away from the final declaration.
The Presidency said Nigerians would judge the next election based on government performance rather than opposition alliances, adding that political coalitions formed by dissatisfied politicians would not change the direction of the 2027 contest.
A presidential aide said Atiku has been a frequent contender in presidential elections for decades and described his latest bid as another familiar attempt that would not alter the current political balance. He also argued that the opposition group behind Atiku is made up of politicians driven by personal grievances rather than a shared development plan for the country.
He further stated that the coalition supporting Atiku has already shown internal cracks, pointing to the withdrawal or distancing of some major political figures, and said this weakens its ability to challenge the ruling party.
The Presidency also compared the current opposition structure to the one that led to the 2015 election, saying the conditions that helped unify opposition forces then no longer exist.
The ruling party also joined in, saying Atiku’s candidacy reflects inconsistency and political ambition rather than a strong national movement. It maintained that voters would focus on economic stability, governance, and ongoing reforms under Tinubu when deciding in 2027.
From Atiku’s camp, a media aide dismissed the Presidency’s comments, saying Nigerians facing hardship, insecurity, and economic pressure are the ones who will decide the outcome of the election, not government spokespersons. He added that public frustration, not political ambition alone, is driving support for the opposition.
He also defended Atiku’s visit to former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi shortly after the primary, saying the meeting was aimed at reconciliation and discussions on national issues.
Political observers say the exchange between the ruling party and opposition signals early positioning ahead of a highly competitive 2027 presidential race.