Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed speculations that he or any other presidential aspirant would withdraw from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential race ahead of the next general election.
In a statement released on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said all aspirants within the party would be given a free and fair opportunity to present themselves to party members, stressing that the ADC would not impose candidates or force withdrawals.
He also called on Nigerians to resist what he described as deliberate attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate, destabilise, and weaken opposition parties ahead of the polls.
Atiku’s statement follows growing speculation that he is under pressure to step aside for a Southern candidate to emerge as the ADC’s presidential flagbearer in a bid to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Rejecting such calls, the former vice president argued that if any leader should consider stepping down, it should be President Tinubu, whom he described as a “growing national liability.”
“For nearly three years, Nigerians have endured one of the harshest periods in recent history—an era defined by punishing economic policies and a shrinking democratic space under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Atiku said.
He maintained that Nigeria’s current challenges require strong opposition and democratic competition, insisting that the ADC remains committed to internal democracy and the right of aspirants to contest freely.
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