Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has told President Bola Tinubu that his greatest political challenge ahead of the 2027 general election is not the opposition—but the performance of his own administration.
The former vice president said Nigerians are more concerned about rising hardship, insecurity and unemployment than political exchanges, urging the President to focus on governance rather than campaign rhetoric.
Atiku’s response followed comments made by President Tinubu during a meeting with the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the meeting, Tinubu dismissed concerns raised by opposition politicians over the 2027 elections, saying they were “crying wolf” because they were “afraid of their own shadows.”
The President also assured the bishops that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct free, fair and credible elections, insisting that all political parties would receive equal treatment.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticized the President’s response, describing it as misplaced at a time when Nigerians are grappling with severe economic and security challenges.
He argued that the concerns raised by the Catholic bishops deserved reassurance on electoral integrity rather than political attacks.
According to Atiku, Tinubu should channel his energy toward tackling inflation, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, exchange rate instability and declining investor confidence.
“The president should wrestle with the millions of Nigerians who now skip meals because food has become a luxury.
“He should wrestle with the insecurity that has turned farming communities into graveyards and highways into hunting grounds for criminals.
“He should wrestle with the unemployment that has robbed an entire generation of hope. He should wrestle with an economy suffocating under policy inconsistency, reckless borrowing and dwindling investor confidence.”
The ADC presidential candidate maintained that political statements cannot erase the daily realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, governments earn public trust through results rather than rhetoric.
“A government that has little to celebrate inevitably seeks refuge in chest-thumping. But Nigerians are no longer interested in political performances. They are interested in performance in government.”
He further stated that slogans and political threats would not improve the country’s economic situation.
“Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs.”
Atiku argued that Tinubu’s administration would ultimately be judged by its record, saying struggling businesses, unemployed graduates, unpaid workers and victims of insecurity reflect the consequences of government policies.
“His greatest opponent is his own record. Every unpaid worker, every struggling business, every unemployed graduate, every victim of insecurity and every hungry family is a living testimony to the consequences of his administration’s choices. That is the contest he has consistently failed to win.”
The African Democratic Congress also faulted the President’s remarks, saying elections are won through governance and performance rather than political rhetoric.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC urged the Federal Government to prioritize addressing insecurity, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and worsening economic conditions instead of focusing on political opponents.
The exchange highlights the increasingly intense political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition leaders seeking to frame the election around the Tinubu administration’s economic and security record, while the presidency maintains that it remains committed to conducting credible elections. As political activities gather momentum, governance, inflation, insecurity and the cost of living are expected to remain central issues shaping public debate….See More