2027: No Court rulings can keep me off the ballot, Atiku insists

Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has declared that he remains in the race for the 2027 presidential election, warning President Bola Tinubu that court decisions cannot prevent Nigerians from determining the country’s political future.

Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of deploying political pressure and judicial processes to weaken opposition parties, alleging that the moves were part of a broader plan to undermine political competition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

In a statement issued on Friday, the former vice-president cautioned against interpreting the latest court ruling as a reflection of the wishes of Nigerians, insisting that the ultimate power to determine the country’s leadership rests with the electorate.

“Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Atiku also raised concerns over the integrity of the voters’ register, alleging attempts to manipulate the electoral process through artificial intelligence-generated photographs, fake names and fictitious identities.

He called attention to the country’s worsening economic and security conditions, criticising the Tinubu administration over the removal of fuel subsidy, the depreciation of the naira and escalating food prices.

The ADC presidential candidate further listed factory closures, increasing youth migration, banditry and kidnapping as evidence of the challenges confronting the country under the current administration.

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Despite the political and legal developments surrounding the opposition, Atiku insisted that he would not withdraw from the presidential contest, assuring his supporters that his name would feature on the ballot in 2027.

“I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot,” he declared.

He challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to test its popularity against the opposition through a transparent electoral process rather than rely on political influence or institutional manoeuvres to frustrate its opponents.

“If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest,” Atiku said.

The former vice-president concluded with a direct warning to Tinubu, insisting that judicial decisions could not shield the president from the verdict of voters in the next general election.

“Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box,” he stated.