Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that there are renewed efforts to prevent the party from participating in the 2027 general election, warning of what he described as a coordinated attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku claimed he had received credible information suggesting that political and legal strategies were being deployed to keep the ADC off the ballot ahead of the next general election.
According to the former vice president, the alleged plot is aimed at weakening the opposition because the ADC has emerged as what he described as the most credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“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,” the statement read.
Atiku urged Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, to defend the country’s democracy and reject any attempt to determine which opposition parties should be allowed to contest elections.
“Our message to the APC and the hooded men plotting in dark chambers is simple: you may conspire, but you will not succeed. If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” he queried.
Although he expressed hope that the alleged plot would not materialise, Atiku said recent political developments made it difficult to dismiss the concerns.
He alleged that institutions expected to remain neutral were increasingly being drawn into partisan politics, while frivolous lawsuits, administrative actions and political pressure were allegedly being used to weaken the opposition.
According to him, the opposition has faced attempts to manufacture internal crises, judicial challenges, administrative harassment and efforts to delegitimise what he described as the country’s fastest-growing political movement.
The former vice president also criticised the Federal Government, arguing that attention had shifted from addressing pressing national issues such as inflation, insecurity, unemployment and the rising cost of living to political manoeuvring.
He maintained that the growing popularity of the ADC should be met with political competition rather than intimidation or institutional interference.
“The proper response to a popular political movement is not suppression. It is to present superior ideas before the electorate. Democracies are won at the ballot box, not in back rooms, not through manipulated court processes, and certainly not through the abuse of state institutions,” he stated.
Atiku warned that any attempt to prevent the ADC from participating fully in the 2027 elections would amount to a serious assault on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, the judiciary, security agencies, civil society organisations and the diplomatic community to remain vigilant and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.