Politics

2027 Election: NDC Tells Atiku to Step Aside, Support Peter Obi to Remove Tinubu

Published

2 months ago

August 21, 2026

Atiku: Production subsidy will boost local oil production, put money back in Nigerians’ pockets

2027 Election: NDC Tells Atiku to Step Aside, Support Peter Obi to Remove Tinubu

The Director of New Media and Strategic Communications of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Theo Abu Agada, has called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support Peter Obi in a united front to defeat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Agada made the appeal in a post on X, where he acknowledged Atiku’s political credentials and described his vision for Nigeria as commendable, but argued that the former Vice President should now prioritise the broader opposition movement over personal ambition. “Every electioneering season. AA is a good and solid man, but he needs to give it up at this point,” Agada wrote. He further stated that although Atiku had a strong vision for the country, the former Vice President should now put aside his presidential ambition in the interest of the opposition. “His idea for a working Nigeria is brilliant, but at this point, he needs to give up his ambition,” he said. Agada maintained that an Atiku endorsement of Obi would give the opposition a stronger platform to challenge the APC and President Tinubu in 2027, adding that withdrawing from the contest would not diminish the former Vice President’s political legacy. “If he steps aside, nothing is going to affect his sterling legacy. AA should support Obi to kick the APC out,” the NDC official said.

The call comes shortly after Atiku declared that the 2027 presidential election would be the last election he would contest, regardless of the outcome. The former Vice President made the disclosure during a Facebook Live session, where he stated: “Whether I win or lose, 2027 will be my last time contesting for the presidency.” Atiku has pursued the presidency of Nigeria for decades, serving as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo before making several unsuccessful runs for the top office. He is now set to contest the 2027 election under the ADC after securing the party’s presidential ticket, following his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party. During the same Facebook Live session, Atiku also renewed his allegations concerning President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials, claiming that Tinubu’s certificates were forged. “I was the one who raised the issue surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic certificates, and I stand by my position that there was forgery. It is unacceptable for the President of Nigeria to have such questions surrounding his academic credentials,” he said.

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The call for Atiku to step aside comes amid growing concerns that a fragmented opposition could hand President Tinubu a second-term victory in 2027. Political analysts have warned that opposition figures, including Atiku, Obi, and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, may be weakening their chances by refusing to join forces. The NDC’s zoning of its presidential ticket to the South earlier cleared the path for Obi and Kwankwaso to clinch the party’s presidential and vice-presidential tickets respectively. Obi joined the NDC after resigning from the ADC on May 2, 2026, and was ratified as the party’s presidential candidate on May 29, 2026. The G100 coalition, a group of eminent Nigerians advocating stronger democratic opposition, has been consulting with opposition leaders, including Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, as part of efforts to build a united front ahead of 2027. The coalition held a summit in Abuja on August 18, 2026, to discuss modalities for achieving greater unity among opposition parties.

However, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has poured cold water on the prospect of a unified opposition, maintaining that Atiku and Peter Obi have already lost the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on TVC’s Politics Tonight, Fayose said: “In the presidential election, Obi has lost already; Atiku has lost already. Except there is a miracle of them coming together, there is no headway.” Fayose also argued that it is too late for a united front because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already accredited all candidates. “It’s too late for a united front because INEC has accredited everybody. Even if you say that you are not doing it again, you are on your own,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Demola Olarewaju, Senior Political Assistant to Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed suggestions that Atiku’s withdrawal would automatically transfer his political support base, particularly in northern Nigeria, to Obi. “If Atiku steps down today, Tinubu wins Northern votes and defeats Obi before 12pm,” he said, arguing that endorsements do not automatically translate into votes. He further accused Obi’s supporters of political blackmail, stating: “If Atiku is not on the ballot, the base won’t shift despite endorsement – stop the blackmail.”

Atiku has previously dismissed calls for zoning arrangements that favour a Southern presidency, arguing that such considerations could undermine the opposition’s chances. Dele Momodu, an ADC chieftain, had earlier endorsed an Atiku-Obi ticket, but Obi reportedly declined alliances with Atiku, insisting on his own popularity and political standing. As the 2027 election approaches, the opposition faces mounting pressure to present a united front. However, with each candidate’s ambitions firmly entrenched and the INEC accreditation process underway, the prospects of a consolidated opposition challenge to President Tinubu’s re-election bid remain uncertain.

2027 Election: NDC Tells Atiku to Step Aside, Support Peter Obi to Remove Tinubu

Related Topics:Atiku Election NDC Peter Obi

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2027: Senator Saliu Mustapha quits APC after losing Kwara governorship ticket

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Politics

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Published

48 minutes ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.

The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.

The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.

It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.

The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.

The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.

However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.

The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.

NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.

The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.

The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Politics

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Published

5 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.

The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.

He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.

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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.

Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.

In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.

One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.

The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.

The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Politics

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

Published

1 day ago

October 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, have reiterated their plan to reduce the cost of petrol if elected in the 2027 presidential election.

The pair made the remarks during a brief stop at an NNPC filling station in Guzape, Abuja, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, where they were approached by members of the public.

Amaechi was driving the vehicle with Atiku seated beside him when they stopped at the filling station. The encounter attracted a small crowd, with the politicians responding to questions about fuel prices and their proposed policy.

Amaechi said an Atiku-led government would reduce the cost of petrol through what the ADC ticket describes as a production subsidy, rather than simply returning to the previous system of subsidising imported petrol.

Atiku also addressed the crowd briefly in Hausa, saying, “Zan dawo da tallafi insha Allahu,” which translates to, “I will bring back the subsidy, by God’s grace.”

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The encounter came a day after Amaechi challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce petrol to ₦600 per litre.

Amaechi said he would withdraw from Atiku’s presidential ticket and campaign for Tinubu if petrol was brought down to that price. He made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The former Rivers State governor has continued to criticise the impact of the petrol subsidy removal on households, particularly the effect of higher fuel prices on transportation and the cost of goods.

Atiku has separately outlined a proposed domestic production subsidy under which government support would be directed at locally refined petroleum products.

The proposal is intended to reduce production costs for domestic refineries and, according to Atiku, allow the savings to be reflected in lower petrol prices for consumers.

The former vice president has argued that the intervention would be structured, capped and subject to public disclosure and independent auditing. Imported petrol would not qualify under the proposed arrangement.

The fuel subsidy debate has remained a major issue in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following the removal of the petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration in May 2023.

The Federal Government has defended the removal, arguing that the former subsidy regime imposed a significant burden on public finances. Opposition figures, including Atiku, have instead linked the policy to higher living costs and have proposed alternative measures to reduce the impact on consumers.

The Abuja filling-station encounter therefore provided Atiku and Amaechi another opportunity to restate their position on petrol prices, fuel subsidy and the cost of living as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 election.