Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has insisted that he remains in the 2027 presidential race, declaring that no court ruling or political pressure will force him to abandon his ambition.
Atiku said Nigerians, not the courts, should determine the country’s political leadership through a free, fair and credible election.
In a statement issued on Friday, 6 November, in Sokoto, the former vice-president accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using political pressure and courtroom manoeuvres to weaken opposition parties and undermine democratic competition.
Reacting to a recent court ruling, Atiku said it should not be mistaken for the position of Nigerians on the political contest.
“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 said.
The former presidential candidate also accused the ruling party of working towards a one-party state, alleging that it had used political pressure to attract opposition leaders into its fold.
He further alleged attempts to manipulate the voters’ register through artificial intelligence-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities.
Atiku argued that the administration should be more concerned about defending its record in office than deploying tactics against opposition parties.
He criticised the government over the removal of the petrol subsidy, the depreciation of the naira, rising food prices, business closures and worsening insecurity.
According to him, the economic hardship has made it increasingly difficult for ordinary Nigerians to afford basic necessities, while banditry and kidnapping continue to threaten communities.
“Look around you. 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.
Atiku urged Nigerians not to lose hope or withdraw from the political process, insisting that their votes remained the strongest instrument for determining the country’s future.
“Your vote is your power, and together, we will take our country back,” he added.
Reaffirming his commitment to the race, the former vice-president declared: “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 also called on the government to allow a competitive electoral process, challenging the ruling party to test its popularity at the polls rather than rely on political manoeuvres.
“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.
Atiku, who served as vice-president between 1999 and 2007, maintained that his campaign would continue to focus on the rising cost of living and the need to make life more affordable for Nigerians.
He concluded with a direct message to the President, saying: “Let me say this plainly: Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box.”
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