TDFormer Vice President and presidential hopeful of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that there are fresh attempts to prevent the opposition party from participating in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Alhaji Abubakar claimed that elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are orchestrating political and legal manoeuvres aimed at excluding the ADC from the ballot.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku said he had received what he described as “credible information” indicating that coordinated efforts were underway to frustrate the ADC’s participation in the next general election.
“We have credible information that APC is working to stop ADC from contesting in the 2027 elections.
“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 alleged.
The former vice president urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and reject any attempt to determine which political parties should be allowed to participate in democratic elections.
“We therefore call on all Nigerians—not just ADC members and supporters—to rise in defence of democracy and reject any attempt by the ruling party to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the next general election,” he said.
Addressing the APC directly, Atiku declared that any alleged conspiracy against the opposition would ultimately fail.
“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 asked.
Atiku acknowledged that he hoped the information available to him would not materialise.
He, however, argued that recent political developments had made the concerns difficult to dismiss.
According to him, there is an emerging pattern in which institutions expected to remain neutral are allegedly drawn into partisan contests.
This is followed by what he described as frivolous litigation, selective use of administrative powers and political pressure behind closed doors.
He further accused the ruling party of focusing more on weakening the opposition than addressing Nigeria’s pressing economic and security challenges.
“The obsession with silencing the opposition has become so consuming that governance itself has taken a back seat,” Atiku said.
He added that Nigerians are grappling with hunger, inflation, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.
Meanwhile, those in government appear preoccupied with political survival.
The ADC presidential candidate argued that the proper response to a growing opposition movement should be political competition rather than suppression.
“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.
He warned that any attempt to prevent the ADC from participating in the electoral process would amount to an assault on constitutional democracy.
Atiku 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 Nigeria’s electoral process.
“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,” he emphasized.
