Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged delegates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to focus on governance capability and national experience when selecting their presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, rather than being swayed by fleeting online popularity. In a statement released through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku cautioned that social media buzz alone does not qualify anyone for the presidency.
He emphasized that the party must put forward its most qualified candidate capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu, given the dire state of the nation. Atiku pointed to Nigeria’s mounting economic struggles, soaring debt, pervasive insecurity, and crumbling institutions as reasons why the ADC cannot afford to gamble on an unproven contender. He declared that this is no time for political trial-and-error, stating: “Nigeria cannot afford a learning-on-the-job presidency.”
Taking aim at the excitement surrounding certain hopefuls, Atiku argued that presidential elections hinge on solid structures, strategic planning, and proven governance skills, not on digital hype. He asserted: “Elections are not won on social media enthusiasm alone. Governance is not performance art. The presidency is not a platform for improvisation. The ADC must present to Nigerians its strongest, most credible, most prepared candidate; not merely its loudest.”
He described the decision before ADC delegates as a historic duty, given the scale of the nation’s crisis. Atiku said the party must ask itself: who has the ability not just to campaign but to govern effectively from day one? He stressed that Nigeria needs a leader with experience negotiating on the global stage, creating jobs through enterprise, managing national emergencies, building coalitions, and consistently offering a practical plan for economic revival and national renewal.