ADC Will Not Be Silenced, Atiku Declares Amid Alleged 2027 Plot

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that there are fresh attempts by unnamed political forces to stop the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from participating in the 2027 general elections, describing the alleged move as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy. In a statement released on Monday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku claimed he had received credible information suggesting that legal and political strategies were being coordinated to prevent the ADC from appearing on the ballot. According to him, the alleged plan is aimed at weakening the opposition and denying Nigerians the opportunity to freely choose their next president. "We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to create confusion within the opposition, their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative," Atiku said. He challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow a free and fair contest if it believes it enjoys genuine public support. "If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so afraid of the ADC?" he asked, insisting that elections should be decided by voters rather than through legal or administrative actions. Although expressing hope that the alleged plot would not succeed, Atiku said recent political developments made it difficult to ignore such warnings. He alleged a pattern in which institutions expected to remain neutral become involved in partisan disputes through litigation, administrative actions and political pressure. He also criticised the government for allegedly focusing more on political battles than addressing pressing national challenges such as insecurity, inflation, unemployment and the rising cost of living. "The proper response to a popular political movement is not suppression but presenting better ideas to the electorate. Democracies are won at the ballot box, not in back rooms or through manipulated court processes," he stated. Atiku warned that excluding the ADC from the 2027 elections would represent one of the gravest assaults on Nigeria's constitutional democracy since the country's return to civilian rule in 1999. He urged 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 the electoral process. "No administration has the constitutional authority to determine which political party Nigerians are permitted to vote for. Sovereignty belongs to the people, and the ballot remains sacred," he added.

The former vice president maintained that intimidation, judicial manipulation and political interference would not diminish public support for the ADC. "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 declared. The statement comes as political realignments continue ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Atiku and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi adopting the ADC as the platform for a coalition seeking to challenge the ruling APC. As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency, the APC nor INEC had responded to the allegations.

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