Atiku Dismisses Obasanjo's Political Clout, Says Ex-President Has 'No Electoral Value' - Newstrends
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Atiku Dismisses Obasanjo’s Political Clout, Says Ex-President Has ‘No Electoral Value’

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Atiku Dismisses Obasanjo's Political Clout, Says Ex-President Has 'No Electoral Value'

Atiku Dismisses Obasanjo’s Political Clout, Says Ex-President Has ‘No Electoral Value’

The ADC presidential candidate dismisses his former boss’s political influence, claiming the ex-president lacks the electoral clout to shape the 2027 election as he unveils a youth-focused campaign strategy. Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a blistering attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, declaring that the ex-leader possesses no electoral value and lacks the political influence to determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Atiku responded to reports that Obasanjo had declined to endorse his presidential ambition, making pointed remarks about how his former boss ascended to power and dismissing any suggestion that the ex-president’s endorsement carries political weight. Atiku stated bluntly that he was not concerned about whether Obasanjo endorsed him, recalling the role the northern electorate played in Obasanjo’s emergence as president in 1999, and declared firmly that Obasanjo could not even win his own state or the Southwest, insisting that it was Arewa that made him President and that he possesses no electoral value.

Atiku and Obasanjo have maintained a fractured relationship since leaving office in 2007 after completing their eight-year tenure as President and Vice President respectively, with the political rift between the two former leaders having deep roots that continue to shape Nigerian political discourse. Atiku has previously stated that he opposed Obasanjo’s controversial third-term bid because he believed it was necessary to defend Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy, maintaining that the resistance to the third-term proposal was never a personal battle but a collective effort to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic institutions. The ADC presidential candidate has insisted that he has no regrets for standing against what he described as an attempt to subvert Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, proudly declaring that he stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert democracy for personal ambition. Atiku added that if Obasanjo’s resentment was rooted in his opposition to the constitutional amendment, he regarded it as a badge of honour, emphasizing that no individual, regardless of status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that the Constitution is supreme. He also recounted his role in Obasanjo’s political journey, claiming he stood by the former president during his imprisonment, supported his family, worked for his release, and assisted him after he regained his freedom, while also mobilising political structures and making significant personal and political sacrifices that contributed to Obasanjo’s emergence as Nigeria’s president in 1999.

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Speaking on his plans for the 2027 general elections, Atiku highlighted his record of providing opportunities for young Nigerians during his tenure as Vice President, noting that some of those who benefited from such opportunities had gone on to become governors, ministers, directors, and holders of other public offices, and promised that if elected president in 2027, he would continue to create opportunities for young Nigerians to serve and take up leadership positions. The ADC presidential candidate has been actively courting the youth vote ahead of 2027, urging young Nigerians to transform their frustration into political power and stop merely complaining about poor governance while preparing to replace ineffective leaders. At a recent ADC National Youth Leadership Summit in Abuja, he told young Nigerians that their time is not tomorrow but now, and that they must prepare themselves to replace those who are failing them. Atiku has pledged that his political platform would create greater opportunities for young Nigerians, promising that at least 30 per cent of legislative candidates would be below 40, with a significant number under 30, and he urged youths to move beyond social media activism and become organised participants in the political process, warning that hashtags do not count votes.

Atiku recently inaugurated state coordinators of the RiseUpNaija Movement (RUN), unveiling an ambitious grassroots mobilisation drive aimed at delivering 20 million votes for the ADC in the 2027 presidential election, bringing together young Nigerians drawn from different political backgrounds under a common platform focused on democratic participation and national renewal. Addressing the leadership retreat in Abuja, Atiku urged young Nigerians to reject vote-buying and defend the electoral process, saying his presidential ambition was driven not by the privileges of office but by a desire to build a nation where leadership is accountable, institutions are strong, and opportunities are available to all, warning that a vote is far more valuable than any amount of money a politician can offer and that citizens should not exchange four years of their future for one afternoon of inducement. The RUN Convener, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, tasked the newly inaugurated coordinators with building a nationwide grassroots network capable of delivering victory for the ADC in 2027, declaring that the target is to have 20 million active voters to deliver their candidate in 2027, with the movement aiming to establish a presence in every polling unit across Nigeria and a target of at least 100 members per polling unit.

Not everyone is convinced of Atiku’s chances, as former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has described Atiku, Peter Obi, and President Bola Tinubu as too old to contest the 2027 election, likening Atiku to former US President Joe Biden, while also saying that Atiku’s running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, faces challenges in the South-South due to his lack of political influence. Despite the opposition, Atiku remains committed to his presidential ambition, reflecting on his political journey and stating that the fire that inspired him as a young student activist still burns today because every day he sees millions of young Nigerians denied opportunities that should have been theirs, underscoring his determination to continue fighting for a better Nigeria.

Atiku Dismisses Obasanjo’s Political Clout, Says Ex-President Has ‘No Electoral Value’

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2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

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2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has questioned the economic positions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, while saying the ideas of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo deserve serious attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ajaero made the comments during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policies of Atiku and other leading figures in the 2027 race.

Rather than focusing solely on Atiku’s economic proposals, the NLC president highlighted the positions of Adebayo and Accord Party presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying he had examined their ideas and was willing to listen to them.

“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.

He subsequently contrasted the economic approaches of Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim with those of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.

“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.

Ajaero’s remarks have drawn attention to the economic debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as issues such as inflation, fuel prices, electricity costs, unemployment, wages and declining purchasing power remain major concerns for Nigerians.

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Adebayo, who is contesting the 2027 presidency on the SDP platform, has built his campaign around social democracy, increased domestic production, job creation and a stronger role for government in providing public services and expanding economic opportunities.

The SDP candidate has also made energy reform a major part of his campaign, arguing that high energy costs and inadequate electricity supply continue to constrain households, businesses and industrial production.

His policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, proposes mechanisms for monitoring government performance through measurable targets, periodic assessments and implementation milestones.

Adebayo has also advocated greater emphasis on domestic production, with the argument that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on imports and foreign exchange while strengthening local industries and productive capacity.

Olawepo-Hashim, whom Ajaero also mentioned, has similarly made energy and industrialisation central to his economic programme. His proposed Energy First agenda focuses on increasing domestic energy production, expanding refining capacity and reducing energy costs.

Ajaero’s comments do not amount to a formal endorsement of Adebayo or Olawepo-Hashim for the 2027 presidential election. Rather, the NLC president said their economic proposals were sufficiently different from those of the politicians he discussed to warrant further engagement.

The intervention comes as political parties and presidential candidates increasingly position their economic policies at the centre of the 2027 campaign, with competing proposals on fuel pricing, taxation, electricity, wages, industrialisation, employment and social protection.

For the NLC, which represents organised labour and has been at the forefront of debates over wages and the impact of economic reforms on workers, the direction of the next administration’s economic policy is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the election.

With the 2027 political contest gathering momentum, the competing economic visions of the presidential candidates are likely to face increased scrutiny from organised labour, businesses and voters as parties intensify their campaigns.

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

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

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

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

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Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

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Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

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

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