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.