Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has described the expanded presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “confession of fear”.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic
Congress (ADC), accused President Bola Tinubu of prioritising political
alliances over the economic hardship and insecurity facing Nigerians.
He said the revised council’s size suggested that Tinubu was
more concerned with assembling political figures than addressing the
difficulties Nigerians had endured under his administration.
Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT); Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun; and Chukwuma Soludo, governor of
Anambra, were among those included in the APC’s expanded presidential campaign
council for the 2027 general election.
The APC initially released the list on August 22, appointing
Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara, as director-general.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu,
director of strategic communication of the ADC presidential campaign council,
Atiku said the appointments would do little to ease the effect of hunger,
violence and kidnappings on Nigerians.
“Only a man afraid of his record would think he could bury
it under hundreds of names,” the statement reads.
“Tinubu can gather every governor, minister and political
defector in Nigeria. None of them can erase the hunger in people’s homes, bring
back those killed by violence or free Nigerians still held captive. Their
families are waiting for answers, not another campaign list.”
The ADC presidential candidate also accused Tinubu of
prioritising his political machinery over Nigerians struggling with the rising
cost of living.
“Tinubu has room for an army of ministers and a stadium full
of campaign officials, but no room in his plans for Nigerians crushed by the
cost of living. He feeds his political machine and tells hungry families to
sacrifice,” he said.
Atiku added that the expanded campaign council would not
change Nigerians’ lived experiences under Tinubu’s administration.
‘USING PRESIDENTIAL VILLA FOR COUNCIL INAUGURATION IS ABUSE
OF PUBLIC OFFICE’
Atiku also criticised the decision to inaugurate the APC
campaign council at the Presidential Villa, arguing that the venue, as public
property, should not be used for partisan political activities.
“The Presidential Villa belongs to the Nigerian people. It
is not a campaign venue or the private property of any political party. Using
it for an APC political event is a gross breach of public trust and a troubling
abuse of public office,” he said.
He questioned the choice of venue, noting that other
locations were available in Abuja.
“Abuja has no shortage of halls and public spaces large
enough to host a campaign gathering. Why, then, did Bola Tinubu choose to
inaugurate his campaign council at night, behind the gates of the Presidential
Villa?” he asked.
Atiku said the decision raised questions about the
administration’s confidence in its record, adding that Nigerians should judge
the president based on their experiences under his government.
“Nigerians may draw their own conclusions. But a president
confident in his record should be willing to face the public in daylight and
ask for another mandate,” he said.
He added that the promise of renewed hope had given way to
hardship and disappointment for many Nigerians.
‘NO CAMPAIGN COUNCIL CAN SHIELD TINUBU FROM PUBLIC JUDGMENT’
Atiku described the expanded campaign council as an attempt
to shield the president from criticism by bringing more political figures into
his campaign structure.
“When the first list drew criticism, Tinubu had a chance to
show that he understood the country’s anger. Instead, he returned with an even
longer list, reaching into other parties for more names. He is collecting
politicians like shields against public judgment,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate also cited a claim that 17.9
million more Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty, linking the
alleged increase to the economic and security challenges confronting the
country.
He said the number of political figures on Tinubu’s campaign
council would not address the rising cost of living or restore citizens’
purchasing power.
“No campaign council, however crowded, can make food
affordable, restore a worker’s purchasing power or explain why the sacrifices
demanded of ordinary Nigerians never seem to reach Tinubu’s own political
circle,” he said.
Atiku said the ADC had assembled its own campaign team to
present an alternative to Nigerians, adding that voters would judge the
president by their living conditions.
“On January 16, the ballot will contain no column for the
size of a campaign council. Nigerians will judge Tinubu by the lives they have
lived under his government,” he added.
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