According to a report by the Punch on Friday, May 29, 2026, political tensions surrounding the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate deepened after the Presidency and the ruling APC dismissed the opposition coalition’s chances in the 2027 election.
Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes to defeat former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who polled 504,117 and 177,120 votes respectively during the party’s presidential primary. The process was, however, followed by controversy as both defeated aspirants rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the exercise.
Reacting to the development, presidential spokesman Temitope Ajayi also took a swipe at former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, arguing that “Obi cannot face an intra-party contest because he does not have the capacity to win a party primary.” He claimed that Obi had consistently emerged as a candidate through political arrangements rather than open internal party competition, insisting that such a record weakens his standing as a major opposition force.
Ajayi further described the coalition surrounding Atiku as lacking ideological depth and being largely driven by political grievances rather than a genuine vision for national development. According to him, the alliance does not possess the unity or structure necessary to challenge the APC in the next presidential election.
The ruling party also maintained that comparisons between Atiku’s current ambition and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s victorious 2015 campaign were misplaced, noting that the political realities that shaped Buhari’s success no longer exist.
Atiku’s emergence has equally revived debate over Nigeria’s North-South power rotation arrangement, with parties such as the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party criticising his renewed presidential bid as politically insensitive.
In response, Atiku’s camp accused the Presidency of attempting to downplay growing public dissatisfaction over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and unemployment across the country…..See More
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