LIVE UPDATES
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that the upcoming 2027 general election will not be a conventional contest between political parties but rather a referendum by the Nigerian populace against the current government of President Bola Tinubu.
He highlighted that recent defections from the PDP to the APC should not distract from the critical challenges faced by Nigeria under the present leadership.
In an extensive social media post on Friday, the former presidential candidate expressed the importance of addressing the recent political changes in Nigeria.
Atiku remarked, “I have been inundated with questions from worried Nigerians, all keen to know my stance on the current political changes. Let me be clear, freedom of association and expression are essential rights in a democracy they are not optional.”
He noted that defections, political partnerships, and realignments are normal aspects of democratic politics that should not be exaggerated or misinterpreted.
He emphasized his lack of resentment toward those who have chosen different political trails, reiterating his enduring dedication to democratic principles and institutions.
“Let us be clear: the upcoming political contest is not APC against PDP, or LP against APC. It is Nigerians versus an administration that has brought untold hardship to the nation,” he stated.
Atiku criticized what he termed as “selective outrage” from those who questioned his recent meeting with former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He contended that political discussions across party lines should not be vilified, especially when similar actions by others are viewed as strategic.
“Some have resorted to insults because I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari. Let’s not rewrite history,” he remarked, recalling how opposition leaders in 2013 consulted key national figures, including Buhari, Obasanjo, and Babangida, when the APC was being formed. “Why is it now considered unacceptable for me to visit Buhari in Kaduna?”
He pointed out the hypocrisy in political dialogue: “When PDP leaders negotiate power agreements with President Tinubu, it's labeled a strategic alliance. Yet, when I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national crisis. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been more prevalent.”
According to him, “This moment is about collective survival. The true adversary is not each other , it is the Tinubu administration’s dismal failure.
“The Tinubu administration has no accomplishments to showcase, no credible record to justify. Its sole tactic is to create chaos and division, as that is the last refuge of the incompetent,” Atiku declared. “And do not be mistaken—an incompetent captain not only damages his vessel; he also jeopardizes the safety of everyone aboard.”
