According to a report by PUNCH on Friday 29th May 2026, fresh political tensions emerged on Thursday after the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, downplayed the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes during the party’s presidential primary to defeat former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who polled 504,117 and 177,120 votes respectively.
The exercise, however, sparked controversy after Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities in the voting process across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Reacting to the development, the Presidency insisted that Atiku’s candidacy poses no threat to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ambition in 2027.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, described Atiku as a “serial presidential contestant” whose ambition has spanned decades without success.
According to Ajayi, the coalition backing Atiku lacks a clear ideological direction and is mainly made up of aggrieved politicians seeking political relevance.
“He has been contesting for president for decades and Nigerians already know him very well. His emergence does not constitute any threat to President Tinubu,” Ajayi said.
The presidential aide also argued that the opposition alliance had already weakened following the reported exit of major political figures such as Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the coalition arrangement.
Ajayi maintained that unlike the coalition that brought former President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015, the current opposition movement lacks unity, structure, and a common agenda.
He further stated that Nigerians would decide the 2027 election based on the performance of the Tinubu administration rather than political alliances driven by personal grievances.
The APC also echoed similar views, insisting that Nigerians would support continuity under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described Atiku’s emergence as evidence of political inconsistency and desperation.
“People will assess the performance of the current administration and vote accordingly. Sentiments will not determine the next election,” Ibrahim stated.
Meanwhile, Atiku’s camp dismissed the Presidency’s comments, saying the government’s reaction reflects growing concern over the rising strength of the opposition coalition.
Atiku’s spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigerians were already frustrated by economic hardship, insecurity, and rising unemployment under the current administration.
