Atiku says he is on the ballot, warns Tinubu against using courts
- Atiku Abubakar says he will not quit the 2027 presidential race despite a recent court ruling.
- He accused the ruling party of using courts and pressure to weaken opposition parties.
- He also blamed the government for fuel prices, the naira's fall and rising food costs.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he will not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, insisting that no court ruling or political pressure will push him off the ballot.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the declaration in a statement on Friday, according to Sahara Reporters, which said it was issued in Sokoto. The Whistler also reported the statement.
His statement came after a Federal High Court in Abuja sacked the Senator David Mark-led executives of the ADC and invalidated actions taken by the party's leadership. The court acted on a suit asking it to stop Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as national chairman and national secretary. The ADC has said it will appeal.
Atiku said the ruling should not be read as the voice of Nigerians.
Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people,
he said, adding that he and his campaign remain on the ballot and that Nigerians must be allowed to decide.
What Atiku said about the government
Atiku accused the ruling establishment of using political pressure and court cases to weaken opposition parties. He asked why a government that claims the support of 32 governors would fear a free and fair election.
He also alleged that the voters' register was being compromised with artificial intelligence-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities. He did not present evidence in the statement, and INEC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, has not responded to the claim in the reports reviewed.
On the economy, Atiku blamed the administration of President Bola Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy without a plan to protect Nigerians. He said the naira had fallen sharply and food prices had risen beyond the reach of ordinary families. He also said factories and small businesses had closed and that insecurity from bandits and kidnappers continued to threaten communities.
He urged Nigerians not to lose hope and to use their votes.
Your vote is your power, and together, we will take our country back,
he said.
He told the President directly that the courts should not be used to avoid the ballot box.
Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box,
Atiku said.
What happens next
The ADC has vowed to challenge the Federal High Court judgment on appeal, so the legal fight over the party's leadership is not over. The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027. For now, Atiku says his campaign will keep its focus on the cost of living.
