Former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that his priority is a better Nigeria, not a desperate bid for the presidency.
Abubakar made this known on Saturday in Lagos at an affirmation ceremony where new defectors, including PDP and LP chieftains, formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He was represented at the event by Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.
The former PDP leader, who recently resigned his membership of the party alongside other opposition figures to join ADC, said the coalition was more of a national movement than a political party.
“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. So, it’s not about him being the president. It’s about having a better government that will be able to deliver for Nigerians,” Olateju stated on his behalf.
He stressed that the ADC was committed to charting a new course for Nigeria, describing the coalition as a “new beginning” aimed at repositioning the country amidst economic hardship, subsidy removal, and inflation.
Abubakar emphasised that leadership within the ADC would not be imposed, adding that the party’s 2027 presidential candidate would emerge through a free and fair contest.
“The point is a better Nigeria, not Atiku for president at all costs, not Obi for president at all costs. Whoever picks the ticket shall represent the collective voice and aspiration of Nigeria,” he noted.
Abubakar urged Nigerians to rally behind the coalition, expressing confidence that with collective effort and divine guidance, the ADC could deliver competent, compassionate leadership and move Nigeria towards prosperity.