Ex-VP Atiku Warns of Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Against ADC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has forcefully denied reports that he plans to withdraw from active politics, calling such claims part of a “coordinated disinformation campaign” targeting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.

In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja, Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, dismissed as fabricated reports claiming the former Vice President had convened a national meeting with ADC stakeholders where he supposedly agreed to “step aside” from politics.

“At no time has the Waziri Adamawa held any such meeting with ADC stakeholders at the national level. His only recent engagement was with stakeholders in Adamawa State. Anything beyond that exists solely in the imagination of those peddling falsehood,” the statement clarified.

The statement emphasized that a decision of such magnitude would never be announced through unofficial channels or anonymous sources. “A matter as grave and consequential as withdrawing from active politics is not, and will never be communicated through anonymous leaks, street-corner gossip, or faceless propaganda,” Shaibu stated, adding that any legitimate announcement would come through proper, formal channels.

The allegations come at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s political landscape, with political parties beginning to position themselves for the 2027 general elections. The ADC, where Abubakar has emerged as a significant figure, has been gaining traction as an alternative political force in a country traditionally dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Abubakar’s team attributed the false reports to “anti-democratic elements” attempting to undermine the ADC’s growing momentum and diminish the former Vice President’s political influence. “This false narrative therefore bears the unmistakable fingerprints of a desperate establishment and its agents—those unsettled by the rising consensus to rescue Nigeria from drift, dysfunction, and democratic erosion,” the statement read.

The statement portrayed Abubakar as a central figure in Nigeria’s evolving political dynamics ahead of 2027, suggesting his influence extends across regional and generational boundaries. “Across the political landscape today, one inconvenient truth continues to assert itself: conversations, speculations, alignments—real or imagined—are not scattering randomly. They are converging. And more often than not, they are converging around Atiku Abubakar,” Shaibu asserted.

Political analysts note that Abubakar, who has run for president multiple times, including as the PDP candidate in the 2023 election, remains a significant political force despite past electoral defeats. His apparent alignment with the ADC represents a notable shift in Nigeria’s political configurations as the country grapples with economic challenges, security concerns, and governance issues.

The ADC, founded in 2005, has historically been a minor party in Nigeria’s political landscape but has recently seen increased prominence. Abubakar’s involvement signals potential realignments among opposition forces seeking to present a united front against the ruling party in 2027.

The statement concluded with a call for ADC members and Abubakar’s supporters to disregard the alleged propaganda, urging them to remain focused on what it described as the “collective mission to rebuild the nation.”

“No amount of disinformation will halt this movement. The determination of Nigerians far outweighs the fear of those who have failed them,” the statement declared, suggesting a continued active role for Abubakar in Nigerian politics despite the circulating rumors.