2027 Election Will Be a Referendum on Tinubu’s Leadership – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that the 2027 general elections will serve as a referendum on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing that the outcome will reflect Nigerians’ verdict on his governance.

Atiku made this known through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Monday night in response to allegations from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which accused the former Vice President of attempting to reposition the opposition for personal gain and to regain access to public resources.

Dismissing the claims, Ibe insisted that Atiku’s political efforts are rooted in the collective aspirations of Nigerians for a better life.

“It’s evident that this government was never prepared for governance. All they care about is politics,” Ibe said. “They’ve gone to extreme lengths to stifle progress, and their actions undermine the very foundation of democracy.”

Citing inefficiency in the current administration, Ibe criticized what he described as exaggerated celebrations over minimal accomplishments—such as the completion of just 30 kilometres out of a proposed 700-kilometre road project in two years.

“They held a grand celebration for achieving just 4% of the project. It’s absurd. The funds wasted on that fanfare could have been used to build additional kilometres of the road,” he added.

Ibe also raised concerns over the worsening socio-economic conditions under Tinubu’s leadership, noting that Nigeria now leads Africa in child malnutrition and remains the global poverty capital.

He further defended Atiku’s integrity, pointing to his long-standing business record and personal contributions to his political campaigns.

“Where were these critics when Atiku was already a successful businessman before Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999? He has created jobs, built businesses, and financed his campaigns from his own resources—not from public funds,” Ibe stated.

Concluding, Ibe urged the APC to shift its focus from political distractions to effective governance, warning that the 2027 election will be a direct contest between Tinubu and the Nigerian people.