Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has pledged to back whichever candidate emerges as the party's flagbearer for the 2027 election. Speaking in a DW Hausa interview, Atiku emphasized party unity, stating, "We will support and endorse whoever emerges as the flag bearer. How many are we (presidential aspirants), three or four? In the PDP, more than ten of us contested." His comments come as the ADC faces tension with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which announced it would cease communication with the party and not monitor its national convention on April 14.
INEC cited a court ruling as the basis for its decision, a move the ADC disputes, accusing the commission of misinterpreting the judgement. Despite this, the party remains determined to hold its convention. Atiku dismissed concerns over INEC's position, suggesting powerful interests are threatened by the ADC's growing national presence. He underscored the party's commitment to inclusiveness, particularly for women and young people. When asked if he would support a younger candidate, he replied, "Yes, why not. Allah has done everything for me. What will be their future and that of their children?" Atiku attributed rising insecurity in northern Nigeria to youth unemployment and lack of education, while blaming the government for enabling corruption and failing to confront the country's worsening economic and security crises.
Atiku's public pledge to support the ADC's eventual candidate rings hollow while he remains the party's dominant figure and chief financier. His claim that only three or four aspirants are in the race ignores the structural advantage he holds over lesser-known contenders. If the ADC convention proceeds without INEC oversight, its legitimacy will rest solely on internal credibility — a risky bet in a political climate already sceptical of party processes. For Nigerian voters disillusioned by elite jostling, the real test is whether the ADC offers a break from the script or just another platform for familiar ambitions.
