Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has declared that no court ruling, political pressure or alleged manipulation can force him out of the 2027 presidential race, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot use the judiciary to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box.
Atiku, in a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, said he remained firmly in the presidential contest and would not abandon the struggle to provide Nigerians with an alternative political direction.
Reacting to the latest court ruling, the former Vice-President cautioned against interpreting the decision as the will of the Nigerian people, maintaining that the ultimate power to determine the country’s political leadership rests with voters.
“Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people. No manipulation, conjecture or concoction can erase our place in this contest, silence our campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future. We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide,” he declared.
Atiku also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying political pressure, courtroom manoeuvres and other tactics to weaken opposition parties and undermine the country’s multi-party democracy.
He questioned the ruling party’s confidence despite its claims of controlling 32 governors and attracting politicians from opposition parties, arguing that a government confident in its performance should have no reason to fear a free and credible electoral contest.
According to him, the alleged efforts to weaken opposition parties, alongside attempts to compromise the voters’ register through artificial intelligence-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities, represent a dangerous development for Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that such actions, if allowed to persist, could push the country towards a one-party political system.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate challenged the Tinubu administration to defend its performance before Nigerians rather than resort to what he described as political manoeuvres aimed at frustrating genuine opposition.
Taking a swipe at the Federal Government’s economic management, Atiku listed the removal of fuel subsidy, the depreciation of the naira, rising food prices, factory closures and the worsening economic hardship as major failures of the administration.
He also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, pointing to the persistent activities of bandits and kidnappers, which he said had continued to hold communities hostage.
“Market stalls stand empty. Feeding your family has become a daily struggle. Fuel prices keep rising, and silent pain fills homes across the country,” he said, describing the economic realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.
Atiku urged Nigerians not to lose hope or surrender their democratic rights, insisting that their votes remained the most powerful instrument for changing the country’s leadership.
He further assured his supporters that he was not withdrawing from the presidential race, declaring that neither threats, blackmail nor judicial interventions would discourage him from pursuing his political ambition.
“Let me be clear to every Nigerian who has stood with us: I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot. No threat, blackmail or court manoeuvre will make me abandon you or the cause we share,” he stated.
Reaffirming his opposition to a possible one-party state, Atiku said Nigeria’s democracy must remain open to competing political parties, diverse opinions and genuine electoral choices.
He challenged the APC and its leaders to test their popularity at the polls if they were confident in their numbers and achievements.
“If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest,” he said.
The former Vice-President called on his supporters to remain calm, united and resolute, stressing that his campaign would continue to focus on the rising cost of living and the need to restore economic opportunities and democratic accountability.
He concluded with a direct message to President Tinubu, declaring: “Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box.”
Atiku served as Nigeria’s Vice-President between 1999 and 2007.
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