Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the African Democratic Congress to present a competent and experienced presidential candidate capable of tackling Nigeria’s economic crisis and institutional decline ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the ADC primary as a historic moment that goes beyond ordinary politics.
According to him, Nigeria needs a leader who can govern effectively from day one, stressing that the country cannot afford “political experimentation” amid worsening hardship, insecurity, rising debt and institutional failures.
“At a time when Nigeria is bleeding from every pore, the question before the ADC is simple: who has the capacity not merely to campaign, but to govern effectively from day one?” he said.
The former vice president maintained that Nigeria’s current situation requires tested leadership, executive experience and economic expertise.
He said the country needs a president with practical governance experience, global negotiating ability, coalition-building skills and a clear roadmap for economic recovery and national renewal.
Atiku also urged ADC delegates to place competence above sentiment as the party prepares for its presidential primary.
According to him, elections are not won by social media popularity alone, adding that governance requires preparation, institutional memory and leadership capacity.
He cited his tenure as vice president between 1999 and 2007 as evidence of his experience, pointing to economic reforms, privatisation policies, fiscal discipline and governance reforms introduced during that period.
Atiku further argued that defeating an incumbent government in 2027 would require political resilience, strategic planning and broad national support.
The ADC presidential primary, scheduled for May 25, 2026, will feature Atiku alongside former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and former NNDC boss Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
