According to the Punch Newspaper on Sunday 24 May 2026, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to present a candidate with proven competence and executive experience ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that Nigeria cannot afford a presidency marked by political experimentation.
In a statement issued Sunday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the delegates’ choice as a historic responsibility that transcends ordinary politics. He reminded the party that the ADC was founded on principles of transparency, accountability, inclusion, and democratic renewal.
“At a time when Nigeria is bleeding from every pore—crippled by economic hardship, insecurity, rising debt, institutional failure, and deepening hopelessness—the question before the ADC is simple: who has the capacity not merely to campaign, but to govern effectively from day one?” Atiku asked.
The former vice president argued that Nigeria’s current challenges demand tested leadership with executive experience, economic understanding, and national appeal. He stressed that the country needs a leader ready to govern immediately, not one who would require time to learn on the job.
“This is not a season for political experimentation. Nigeria cannot afford a learning-on-the-job presidency,” he said. “Nigeria today needs a president who understands governance not as theory, but as lived responsibility.”
Atiku went further, outlining the qualities such a candidate must possess: someone who has negotiated globally, created jobs through enterprise, managed national crises, built coalitions, and consistently articulated a practical roadmap for economic recovery and national renewal.
He urged ADC delegates to prioritise competence over sentiment as the party prepares for the 2027 polls. “At this defining moment, ADC delegates must ask themselves a simple but profound question: do we want to make a statement, or do we want to make a President?” he said.
The former vice president added that while others may rely on rhetoric and social media enthusiasm, he possesses the institutional memory and experience needed to lead effectively. He cautioned that elections are not won on digital buzz alone, and governance is not performance art.
“The presidency is not a platform for improvisation. The ADC must present to Nigerians its strongest, most credible, most prepared candidate—not merely its loudest,” Atiku concluded…See More
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