Daud Olatunji
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he will not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, insisting that President Bola Tinubu cannot use court proceedings to evade the judgment Nigerians are expected to deliver through the ballot box.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said no court ruling, political pressure or alleged manipulation would stop him from contesting the election or deny Nigerians the opportunity to determine the country’s political future.
The former Vice-President made the declaration in a statement issued in Sokoto on Friday, November 6, 2026, while reacting to a recent court ruling which he said should not be misconstrued as representing the wishes of Nigerians.
He maintained that the latest legal development would neither derail his political ambition nor silence his campaign, urging his supporters to remain steadfast ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people. No manipulation, conjecture or concoction can erase our place in this contest, silence our campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future. We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide,” he declared.
Atiku also accused the ruling political establishment of allegedly deploying political pressure, manufactured narratives and courtroom manoeuvres to weaken opposition parties and undermine democratic competition.
He questioned why a government that boasts of controlling 32 state governors and attracting politicians from opposition parties would allegedly resort to tactics aimed at weakening its political rivals instead of testing its popularity at the polls.
The former Vi
The former Vice-President challenged the Tinubu administration to demonstrate confidence in its performance by allowing a free, fair and credible electoral contest rather than pursuing what he described as efforts to push Nigeria towards a one-party state.
According to him, Nigeria’s democracy must accommodate competing political interests and opposing voices, warning that any attempt to weaken opposition parties would threaten the country’s democratic development.
Atiku also raised concerns about the integrity of the voters’ register, alleging attempts to compromise the electoral process through the use of artificial intelligence-generated photographs, fictitious names and false identities.
He warned that such practices, if not properly addressed, could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and compromise the credibility of the 2027 elections.
On the economy, the ADC presidential candidate accused the Tinubu administration of worsening the financial difficulties confronting Nigerians through its handling of fuel subsidy removal, the depreciation of the naira and rising food prices.
Atiku said the economic situation had contributed to the rising cost of living, closure of factories and small businesses, and the growing difficulty faced by families in meeting their basic needs.
He further expressed concern over the increasing number of young Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad, alongside persistent insecurity caused by banditry and kidnapping in several communities.
“Look around you. Market stalls stand empty. Feeding your family has become a daily struggle. Fuel prices keep rising, and silent pain fills homes across the country,” he said.
The former Vice-President urged Nigerians not to surrender their democratic rights despite the country’s economic and political challenges, maintaining that their votes remained the most powerful instrument for determining who governs them.
He specifically assured his supporters that he would not abandon the presidential contest despite the legal and political challenges confronting the opposition.
He also called on the ruling party to allow Nigerians to make their choices without interference, challenging those in power to face the opposition at the polls if they were confident in their achievements and political strength.
“If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest,” he said.
