Atiku shrugs off defections, says 2027 will be Nigerians vs APC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has insisted that the 2027 general election will not be decided by high-profile defections but by the Nigerian electorate, declaring that the contest will ultimately pit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against the people.

Atiku, a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress, stated this on Friday through a statement from his media office while responding to the defection of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, to the APC.

Fintiri had earlier announced in a 14-minute statewide broadcast that he was leaving the Peoples Democratic Party for the APC, saying the move was driven by the developmental interests of Adamawa State. He disclosed that he defected alongside his entire cabinet, all PDP officials and supporters across the state’s 226 wards and 21 local government areas. The governor was subsequently registered as an APC member with card number 001.

Ahead of his formal declaration, 15 out of 16 PDP lawmakers in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, including Speaker Bathiya Wesley, had switched to the APC.

Reacting to the developments, Atiku maintained that political defections were neither new nor decisive in shaping electoral outcomes. He stressed that every politician had the right to choose their political alignment, noting that even members of his own household were entitled to independent views.

The statement read, “Every politician is free to choose a path. He respects that right. He added that even his children are free to take independent political positions. However, anyone — including his son — who chooses to stand with Nigerians rather than the APC is standing on the side of patriotism.”

Atiku argued that the recent wave of defections by opposition figures reflected pressure rather than genuine grassroots support, accusing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of using state machinery to intimidate rivals in a bid to entrench a one-party system.

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“This government fears accountability. It fears credible elections. It fears the people,” he said.

He further contended that political cross-carpeting could not mask the economic realities confronting citizens, pointing to what he described as escalating hunger, deepening poverty, insecurity and widespread unemployment stemming from flawed economic policies.

“Governors may defect for personal survival. Nigerians are defecting in their millions because they want survival,” Atiku said.

Warning voters against mistaking defections for popularity, he questioned what achievements the ruling party would present to Nigerians in the next election cycle.

“What will the APC campaign on in 2027 — hunger? hardship? hopelessness?” he asked.

Atiku concluded by urging Nigerians to recognise their electoral power and resist inducements during the polls.

“Do not trade your future. Do not mortgage your children’s tomorrow. In 2027, the people will have their say — and their will shall prevail,” he said.

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