Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accepted the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket, pledging to lead a broad opposition coalition to “rescue” Nigeria from what he called a collapsing democracy and a corrupt, incompetent APC government.
Speaking after the party’s primaries, Atiku said the process proved democracy was still alive in the ADC, where members were free to contest in a transparent and fair process.
He used the acceptance speech to condemn the detention of opposition figures, including former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and accused the Presidency, INEC, and elements in the judiciary of engineering leadership crises in rival parties.
Atiku said an ADC government under his leadership would prioritize security, education, the economy, healthcare, and power-sharing, promising decisive action on insecurity, free compulsory education, and a revival of the power sector to drive jobs and growth.
“We will be guided by clear national plans with set targets and timelines in line with commitments enshrined in our party’s manifesto. We will provide clear leadership that will empower our states to competitively attain the potentials of meeting the expectations of citizens. That will include working with them to guarantee well-outlined minimum standards of welfare provision in line with international best standards. Ours will be a new era of accountable leadership.
“We shall prioritise Security, Education, the Economy, Healthcare and the challenge of power- sharing among the constituent units of our country.
“In the coming weeks and months, we shall be rolling out our platform addressing these priorities and other issues in more details and with clear timelines.
“Fellow citizens, where the APC government offers meaningless renewed hope, we will provide renewed action to repair the damage that they have done to our economy and society in the last twelve years of misrule.
“My dear friends, we have gone through great challenges to build this coalition. Let us now turn our energies to continuing to build this party as we prepare for the campaign to win the elections and to rescue this country from the current misrule. We have a sacred responsibility to build a party that will stand as a great institution not only in Nigeria but as a great example to the world.
“I, therefore, appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to come back to our party and close ranks with the rest of us. I appeal to all those who contested for various positions in our primaries to close ranks with us. In particular, I invite Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country. As I said previously, there are no winners and no losers. Our people look up to us for leadership. I am ready to lead. I shall work with you all to continue to build our party. I will campaign with you and, if Nigerians give us the mandate, govern with you to build a country that works for all.”
