The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has assured Nigerians that its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, will provide a physically present and responsive presidency if elected in the 2027 presidential election. The council said Atiku would not be an “absentee President” who would be unavailable when Nigerians needed presidential attention. This assurance was given by Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan.
According to Ologbondiyan, Atiku had consistently demonstrated an understanding of Nigeria’s economic and social challenges and proposed policy interventions to address them. During the 2023 presidential campaign, Atiku advocated a phased approach to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, arguing that the process should not impose excessive pressure on Nigerians. This, Ologbondiyan said, showed Atiku's commitment to addressing the country's challenges.
Ologbondiyan recalled that the experience of the past three years had reinforced the need for a presidency that was accessible, responsive and capable of taking timely decisions in the national interest. He said the country required firm and focused leadership, adding that Nigeria could not afford a situation in which there was uncertainty over who was effectively directing the affairs of government at critical moments.
The ADC Presidential Campaign Council's assurance comes amid renewed attention to President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged stay outside Nigeria. Tinubu left the country on August 30 for a three-week working vacation, which the Presidency later extended by a few days. As of September 28, he had yet to return, with the Presidency saying he would be back during the week.
Ologbondiyan said Atiku’s approach to governance would focus on addressing the country’s economic difficulties, improving citizens’ welfare and restoring confidence in public institutions. He added that the ADC candidate’s recent economic proposals were focused on reducing the burden of rising energy and living costs. Atiku has proposed a production-based intervention for petroleum products refined in Nigeria.
The proposal has drawn criticism from the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, which has questioned its legal, fiscal and operational framework, including its compatibility with the Petroleum Industry Act. Earlier, the leader of the Atiku Unity Movement delegation, Francis Eburuwe, said the group was fully committed to the Atiku project and would mobilise Nigerians around what he described as the need for a change in the country’s political direction.
Eburuwe expressed confidence that an Atiku administration would address the challenges facing the nation and improve the welfare of citizens. He pledged the movement’s support for the ADC presidential campaign and called on its members to remain committed to grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The statement came as the debate over President Tinubu's absence continues.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar has proposed a production-based intervention for petroleum products refined in Nigeria to address the country's economic challenges.
- The ADC Presidential Campaign Council has assured Nigerians that Atiku will provide a physically present and responsive presidency if elected in 2027.
- President Bola Tinubu's prolonged stay abroad has sparked debate, with opposition figures questioning his absence.
