The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has maintained that the outcome of the 2027 presidential election will be determined by Nigerian voters, not by the views or endorsements of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The party said while Obasanjo remains a prominent national figure whose opinions attract public interest, the constitutional power to elect the country’s next president rests solely with the electorate.
According to the party, the APC turned attention to Obasanjo’s remarks after Catholic Bishops criticised the state of the nation during their recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
“The APC has become obsessed with our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Instead of defending its record after the Catholic Bishops spoke about the state of the nation, it has chosen to use former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comments to divert attention from its performance over the last three years,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC also accused the ruling party of attacking critics rather than addressing the issues they raise.
“Whenever respected Nigerians speak about worsening poverty, insecurity, the rising cost of living or the loss of public confidence, the APC does not answer for its record. Instead, it looks for someone to attack. Yesterday it was the Catholic Bishops, today it is Atiku Abubakar, tomorrow it will be someone else,” the statement said.
ADC stressed that no individual, regardless of political stature or influence, can dictate the outcome of a democratic election, insisting that the will of the people remains the ultimate deciding factor.
The opposition party urged political actors to concentrate on engaging Nigerians with credible policies, practical solutions and issue-based campaigns rather than relying on perceived political endorsements.
It also reaffirmed its confidence in the democratic process, expressing optimism that voters would make their choices based on competence, leadership capacity and the nation’s governance needs ahead of the 2027 polls.
