Why Atiku is a pan-Nigerian leader — Campaign council

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has described its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as a true Pan-Nigerian leader and a detribalised statesman.

It said the former Vice President deserves victory in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

According to a statement on Saturday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the council, Kola Ologbondiyan, he spoke while receiving the leadership of the Grassroots Mobilisation Network, led by its National Coordinator, Sadiq Lwafu, during a visit to his office.

Ologbondiyan said Atiku represented a unifying national figure whose political relationships and personal outlook transcended ethnic, religious and regional boundaries.

“Atiku Abubakar, on the other hand, is a natural Nigerian devoid of ethnic, religious or sectional inclination. He is a leader for all tribes and regions,” he said.

He argued that Atiku’s family, business and political relationships reflected the diversity of Nigeria.

“Check the people around him over the years. Take a close look at his immediate family, his businesses and his political associates. Atiku represents Nigeria and Nigeria is in him.

“He is married across the Niger, his children represent our diversity, and his associates cut across every tribe and religion. That is the definition of a Pan-Nigerian leader,” he said.

Ologbondiyan contrasted Atiku with President Bola Tinubu, whom he accused of sectionalism.

“In the last three years, Tinubu has shown clannishness in governance. His appointments, his policies, his body language—everything screams sectionalism and exclusion,” he alleged.

He also accused the All Progressives Congress of exploiting Nigeria’s ethnic and religious differences for political advantage.

“The APC has so much capitalised on our fault lines to divide the country. They don’t care about the welfare of the people as far as they can remain in power,” he said.

He added, “They are not concerned about our unity but about winning elections against the peace and harmony of the nation.”

The council director maintained that the administration’s alleged sectional approach had failed to translate into improved governance or better living conditions for Nigerians. He said the government could not justify its approach without delivering tangible results.

He said Atiku’s record, policy proposals and commitment to economic recovery made him the best candidate to address the country’s challenges.

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“Atiku Abubakar’s track record speaks for itself. Nigeria is at a crossroads and needs Atiku for the task ahead. He is the only one with a clear blueprint for our economic recovery,” he said.

On fuel subsidy, Ologbondiyan said an Atiku administration would restore the policy under a transparent and properly managed framework designed to protect vulnerable Nigerians and stimulate production.

“Atiku is going to bring back subsidy in a transparent and well-managed manner that will directly benefit the poor and stimulate production,” he said.

He added that other candidates had no solutions to the challenges confronting the country. “Atiku is clear, consistent and prepared,” he said.

Lwafu said the network was embarking on a nationwide mobilisation campaign to rally Nigerians behind Atiku’s presidential ambition and ensure the defeat of the APC in the 2027 election.

He lamented that the Tinubu administration had subjected Nigerians to severe economic hardship, worsening insecurity and what he described as an increasingly authoritarian political environment.

“President Tinubu’s administration has made life so difficult for Nigerians. The hardship is too much. Nigerians are now living in fear of insecurity.

“It appears that governance has collapsed, as a group of greedy politicians have ganged up against the poor, and democracy has been abused and replaced with an authoritarian regime,” he said.

He warned that Nigeria was drifting towards the path of failure, like some African countries where, in his view, democratic institutions had been weakened and political power increasingly concentrated.

“The only man who can rescue Nigeria is Atiku Abubakar, and we are on a mission to ensure that the APC is thrown out of power through the ballot box next year,” he said.

Lwafu described the ADC as a credible platform that brings together experienced politicians, patriotic Nigerians and leaders committed to national development.

“ADC is the only platform with great minds and patriotic leaders. Look at our National Chairman, David Mark; Atiku Abubakar; Rotimi Amaechi; Tunde Ogbeha; Rauf Aregbesola; Kashim Imam; Senator Austin Akobundu; Senator Aminu Tambuwal; Emeka Ihedioha; Ralph Nwosu; Dele Momodu; Dino Melaye and others,” he said.

Ologbondiyan commended the network for its commitment to national development and grassroots mobilisation.

The council assured the group that it remained committed to working with grassroots organisations interested in ending what it called APC misrule, restoring public confidence in governance and rebuilding the country.