BY AHMED AKANBI
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of diverting attention from Nigeria’s economic and security challenges by focusing its attacks on the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party alleged that the APC was attempting to make the 2027 general election about personalities rather than its performance in office.
According to the ADC, the ruling party has “shamelessly latched on” to recent comments by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Atiku while ignoring concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria over worsening poverty, insecurity and rising cost of living.
“The APC wants the 2027 election to be about personalities because it cannot defend its performance. They want the election to be about Obasanjo’s personal opinion of Atiku based on a distant past because they cannot defend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s record based on current performance,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC maintained that criticisms of the Tinubu administration by respected Nigerians, including Catholic bishops, reflected the realities confronting millions of citizens and should not be dismissed through political attacks.
It accused the Federal Government of failing to provide convincing explanations for rising food prices, worsening insecurity, unemployment and the increasing cost of living.
The opposition party also questioned the government’s growing debt profile, alleging that a significant portion of national revenue was being used to service debts while many Nigerians continued to struggle economically.
Defending Atiku’s record, the ADC noted that during the Obasanjo administration, when he served as Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council, Nigeria experienced stronger economic growth, improved macroeconomic stability and greater investor confidence.
The party insisted that political disagreements between Obasanjo and Atiku should not overshadow what it described as the economic achievements recorded during that period.
The ADC further challenged the APC-led government to explain why insecurity persists across many parts of the country, with communities still facing attacks by bandits, terrorists and kidnappers despite repeated government assurances.
According to the party, Nigerians expect the 2027 election to be centred on governance, economic management and security rather than personal attacks on opposition figures.
The statement concluded that the outcome of the next general election would ultimately be determined by the lived experiences of Nigerians and their assessment of the current administration’s performance.