Atiku Sets Condition To Participate In Presidential Debates

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has said he will only participate in presidential debates ahead of the 2027 general elections if President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are represented.

Atiku, a former vice-president, accused the APC-led administration of using presidential debates to turn opposition candidates against one another while avoiding direct scrutiny from the electorate.

His position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by his campaign spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo.

Okonkwo said it was unacceptable for presidential debates to be organised primarily among opposition candidates while the incumbent president and ruling party remained outside the process.

“Political contest worldwide has always been between the ruling party and the opposition parties,” Okonkwo said.

“The situation in Nigeria today in which presidential debates are organised among the opposition parties only is therefore untenable.”

He accused the Tinubu administration of exploiting such platforms to “instigate the opposition to attack each other” while shielding itself from scrutiny by Nigerians.

Consequently, Atiku’s campaign said the former vice-president would no longer participate in televised debates that excluded Tinubu and the APC.

“HE Atiku Abubakar, as the leader of the coalition of opposition parties and leaders, is left with no other choice than to make his appearance in any presidential debates conditional on the participation of President Bola Tinubu and the APC,” Okonkwo said.

“There is no hiding place for APC in 2027.”

Despite the decision, Atiku said he remained willing to engage voters through other platforms, including interviews, town hall meetings and press conferences.

The campaign said such engagements would allow the ADC candidate to present his policies directly to Nigerians without participating in arrangements that could pit opposition candidates against one another.

“HE Atiku Abubakar is willing to engage the Nigerian people through interviews, townhall meetings, press conferences, and any other forum of interaction with the people but will not participate in any arrangement that will pit the opposition against itself and give undue advantage to APC,” the statement added.

The former vice-president subsequently challenged Tinubu to a head-to-head national presidential debate, saying such an encounter would give Nigerians an opportunity to compare the policies and programmes of the ruling party and opposition.

“HE Atiku Abubakar, therefore, challenges President Bola Tinubu to a national presidential debate which will provide an opportunity for both the ruling party and the opposition parties to address Nigerians on their policies and ways to achieve those policies so that Nigerians can make an informed choice for the 2027 elections,” Okonkwo said.

Atiku’s position comes days after notable political figures were absent from the signing of the 2027 General Election Peace Accord in Abuja.

The ceremony, organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre, was held ahead of the formal commencement of campaigns for the 2027 elections.

Atiku and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who is the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) were among the notable opposition figures absent from the event.

Tinubu, who is seeking re-election on the APC platform, was also absent. He was, however, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.