Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the newly formed opposition coalition is not about boosting the personal ambitions of political figures like himself, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, or Nasir El-Rufai.
Instead, he says, it is a response to what he describes as a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism under the current ruling party.
In a statement made through his media aide, Paul Ibe, during an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, Atiku explained that the goal of the coalition—led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—is to resist the manipulation of the electoral process and prevent further damage to democratic institutions.
“This is not an anti-Tinubu project,” Atiku said. “It is a pro-Nigeria effort. The focus is on the people, not on personalities.”
His comments come amid growing speculation about possible rivalry within the coalition over the 2027 presidential ticket. But Atiku dismissed those talks, warning that infighting would only play into the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He accused the APC of already setting the stage to rig the next general election, pointing to the appointment of a former official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who once headed its IT department, as the party’s new national chairman.
“That appointment raises serious concerns,” he said. “We’re not talking about an ordinary former electoral official here—this was someone who managed critical digital infrastructure for INEC.”
Atiku said this move by the APC shows that the party is not interested in winning elections fairly but is preparing the ground to manipulate the process.
