Atiku warns that secret plots exists to also prevent ADC from contesting next year's elections

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has warned that the Nigerian government is planning to use political and legal machinations to prevent his party the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from participating in next year's elections.

In a growingly disturbing sign, Nigeria is veering towards becoming a one-party state with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) being the only viable political entity. Its main rival, the People Democratic Party (PDP) is fragmented, torn asunder by factional infighting, while other parties are being excluded from the political environment.

Last week, a federal high court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). this set a dangerous precedent, as former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi had already been nominated as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, with the former Kano Stage governor and defence minister Rabiu Kwankwaso picked as his running mate.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has now revealed that a plot exists to keep the ADC off the ballot in the 2027 general elections. He said elements within President Bola Tinubu’s government want to use political and legal machinations to exclude the ADC from the ballot and urged his supporters to oppose the development.

“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, so 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.

“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?” Atiku added.