Atiku Dismisses Tinubu's Second Term Endorsement, Calls APC 'Desperate and Panicked'

Politics

Atiku Dismisses Tinubu's Second Term Endorsement, Calls APC 'Desperate and Panicked'

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term, describing it as evidence of panic and desperation within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The endorsement came during the APC National Summit in Abuja on Friday, where the party's Governors Forum and leadership of the National Assembly publicly backed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. Senate President Godswill Akpabio notably declared Tinubu as both APC's and Nigeria's "sole presidential candidate" for 2027.

Speaking through his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku emphasized that the endorsement of Nigerian citizens is what truly matters, not the ruling party's political maneuvers.

"When you've prepared diligently for an exam, you can sleep soundly the night before, waking up assured of success. That's the position of our coalition," Ibe stated during a press briefing in Abuja.

"Nigerians are the ultimate judges. Their endorsements will determine the outcome, not the political manoeuvrings of the ruling party. The recent endorsements reveal the panicked state of this administration," he added.

The former Vice President criticized the Tinubu administration for focusing on securing political endorsements instead of addressing Nigeria's pressing challenges. Ibe highlighted several issues facing the country, including rising insecurity, with territories reportedly being reclaimed by insurgents in Borno State and other regions.

"Insecurity is at an unprecedented level... The cost of living is unbearable. Families struggle to feed themselves, access healthcare, or send their children to school," Ibe stated.

"As school fees are due, many are weighed down by these burdens. Yet, the government has done little to address these challenges, choosing instead to focus on political games," he concluded.

This development comes amid reports of potential coalition-building among opposition figures, including Atiku, Peter Obi, and others, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.