Atiku accepts ADC ticket, vows to rescue Nigeria from “destructive’” APC rule

Atiku Abubakar has accepted the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket, promising to lead a united push to “rescue” Nigeria from what he called a corrupt, incompetent and polarising APC government.

Speaking at Transcorp Hilton on Wednesday night after winning the ADC primary with 1.8m votes, the former vice president said the party proved democracy is still alive despite what he described as attempts by the ruling party to strangle it nationwide.

“We demonstrated that while democracy is being strangled and squashed by the ruling party and its oppressive and anti-democratic government, democracy is alive and well in the African Democratic Congress,” Atiku said.

He accused the APC government, INEC and elements in the judiciary of engineering leadership crises in opposition parties and harassing dissenting voices.

Atiku cited the three-month detention of former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai despite court orders granting him bail, saying the government was using security agencies and anti-corruption bodies to coerce opposition politicians into joining the APC.

“Once a person joins the APC, the harassment ceases and the charges against them magically disappear. This abuse of power must stop,” he said.

Atiku warned against further interference in ADC’s affairs, saying any attempt by the Presidency, INEC or judiciary to undermine the party would be fiercely resisted.

He called on fellow aspirants Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to join him, stressing that no one was defeated in the primary and that the urgent task was to unite against the APC.

“This is not the time to celebrate. We have to unite to pull our country and our people out of the destructive grip of a corrupt, incompetent and polarising APC government,” he said.

Outlining his priorities, Atiku said an ADC government under his leadership would focus on security, education, the economy, healthcare and power sharing among Nigeria’s constituent units.

On security, he pledged massive recruitment, modern equipment, better welfare and improved coordination among security agencies to end what he described as the worst insecurity in the country’s history.

On education, he promised free and compulsory primary and secondary schooling, investment in skills for youth, and better welfare for teachers.

He said the APC had failed on the economy, leaving millions in poverty while a few around power enriched themselves. An ADC government would remove bottlenecks to investment, provide electricity and create jobs, he said.

On healthcare, he vowed to prioritise primary care and equip centres of excellence to reduce medical tourism.

Atiku said the party would campaign on clear national plans with set targets and timelines, guided by the ADC manifesto. He appealed to aggrieved members to return and close ranks.

“The future of our younger generation is being mortgaged with no accountability. That has to change and will change under an ADC government,” he said.

The ADC flagbearer said the real work begins now, with preparations to campaign hard and win the 2027 general elections.