Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that there is a fresh plot to prevent the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from participating in the 2027 general election, warning that any attempt to exclude the party from the ballot would pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku claimed he had received credible information suggesting that political and legal manoeuvres were being coordinated by unnamed elements within the ruling establishment to keep the ADC out of the 2027 elections.
According to the former vice president, the alleged move is part of a broader plan to weaken the opposition and deny Nigerians the opportunity to freely choose their next president.
“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative,” Atiku said.
He challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow a free and fair contest if it is confident of its popularity.
“If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” he asked.
Although he expressed hope that the alleged plot would not materialise, Atiku argued that recent political developments make such concerns difficult to ignore.
He alleged a recurring pattern in which institutions expected to remain neutral are drawn into partisan disputes, while legal actions, administrative decisions and political pressure are used against opposition figures.
According to him, governance has taken a back seat as political battles continue despite the country’s economic and security challenges.
“The obsession with silencing the opposition has become so consuming that governance itself has taken a back seat. At a time when Nigerians are battling hunger, inflation, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power, those in power appear more focused on political survival than national survival,” he said.
Atiku insisted that the growing popularity of the ADC should be tested through the ballot box rather than through legal or administrative interference.
He warned that any attempt to stop the ADC from participating in the 2027 elections would rank among the greatest threats to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
The former vice president also called on the judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organisations and the international community to remain vigilant against actions capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
He maintained that intimidation, judicial manipulation and political engineering would not stop the growing demand for change.
“The desire for change cannot be outlawed. Hope cannot be deregistered. Democracy cannot be subverted by administrative fiat. The will of the Nigerian people will prevail over every conspiracy,” Atiku declared.
The statement comes amid increasing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with Atiku and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi adopting the ADC as the platform for a coalition seeking to challenge the ruling APC.
