Nigeria’s Atiku urges ADC: “We need a president who can govern, not just trend online.”

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar challenged delegates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Sunday, urging the party to focus on competence and national reach rather than sentiment and social‑media popularity as it prepares to select a presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Atiku dismissed enthusiasm on social media as an inadequate test for the presidency, insisting that the ADC must field its strongest candidate to defeat President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that Nigeria, which is grappling with economic hardship, mounting debt, insecurity and institutional decay, cannot afford the luxury of fielding an untested candidate.

“This is not a season for political experimentation. Nigeria cannot afford a learning‑on‑the‑job presidency,” he declared.

Without naming any rival, the former vice president took a pointed swipe at the wave of enthusiasm surrounding certain contenders, insisting that presidential contests are decided by structures, strategy and governance capacity — not digital noise.

“Elections are not won on social media enthusiasm alone. Governance is not performance art. The presidency is not a platform for improvisation. The ADC must present to Nigerians its strongest, most credible, most prepared candidate — not merely its loudest,” he said.

Atiku described the choice before ADC delegates as one that transcends ordinary political calculation, calling it a historic responsibility given the scale of Nigeria’s current crisis.

He said, “At a time when Nigeria is bleeding from every pore — crippled by economic hardship, insecurity, rising debt, institutional failure and deepening hopelessness — the question before the ADC is simple: who has the capacity not merely to campaign, but to govern effectively from day one?”

Atiku argued that the moment calls for a leader who has “negotiated globally, created jobs through enterprise, managed national crises, built coalitions and consistently articulated a practical roadmap for economic recovery and national renewal.”

Pointing to his own record, he cited the economic reforms of the Obasanjo‑Atiku administration as evidence of his readiness, including the privatisation drive that liberalised key sectors, the fiscal discipline that contributed to Nigeria securing debt relief, and the broader governance overhaul of that era.

“The economic reforms that helped reposition Nigeria, the privatisation drive that opened sectors, the fiscal discipline that contributed to debt relief, and the governance reforms of that era were not accidents. They were products of leadership, competence and courage,” he said.

Posing what he called a “simple but profound question” to delegates, Atiku drew a sharp distinction between symbolism and electoral viability.

“ADC delegates must ask themselves: do we want to make a statement, or do we want to make a president?”

He stressed that defeating an entrenched incumbent in 2027 would demand far more than emotional momentum, insisting the party must think strategically about which candidate can build a winning coalition across Nigeria’s diverse regions, faiths and demographics.

“The ADC must think beyond sentiment. It must think about victory. It must think about governance. It must think about Nigeria. This is a defining election. The party needs a candidate with national acceptability, political resilience, tested structures and the capacity to unify disparate interests into one winning coalition,” he said.

Atiku urged delegates to rise above narrow ambitions and honour what he said is a date with national destiny.

“History will remember this moment. The choice before ADC delegates is not merely about ambition. It is about destiny. Nigeria deserves rescue, not rhetoric,” he declared.

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