ADC dismisses report on southern stakeholders urging Atiku to quit 2027 race
Atiku
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denied reports that southern political stakeholders urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.
On Tuesday evening, multiple reports claimed that southern leaders held a private meeting with Abubakar, pressuring him to shelve his ambition in support of a candidate from the region. The reports also alleged that Atiku declined, insisting on his constitutional right to contest.
“I will not be pressured into abandoning my constitutional right to aspire. Let every qualified member test their popularity through a credible primary. Zoning must not be used to silence competence,” he was quoted as saying.
However, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s spokesperson, dismissed the claims as unfounded. Speaking to TheCable on Tuesday night, he said, “Nobody is having any such conversation,” adding that the party remains focused on strengthening its structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
A source close to Atiku also refuted the report, branding it as “fake news” and “entirely baseless.”
“Who chaired the meeting? Where did the meeting take place? Who and who were at the meeting? It is fake and propaganda,” the source said.
He further alleged that the story was concocted by supporters of Labour Party’s Peter Obi and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause division within the ADC.
“Trying to respond is tantamount to validating nonsense,” he added.
