Nigeria needs competence in leadership, not online popularity – Atiku to ADC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged delegates of the African Democratic Congress to prioritise competence, experience and national acceptability over sentiment and social media popularity as the party prepares to elect its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, warned that Nigeria’s current challenges require a tested leader capable of governing effectively from day one.

According to him, the country is grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, rising debt, institutional decline and widespread public frustration, making it imperative for the ADC to field its strongest candidate against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This is not a season for political experimentation. Nigeria cannot afford a learning-on-the-job presidency,” Atiku stated.

Without mentioning any rival aspirant, the former vice president appeared to dismiss growing enthusiasm around some contenders, arguing that electoral victories are built on political structures, strategy, experience and governance capacity rather than online popularity.

“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 said.

Atiku described the decision before ADC delegates as a defining moment, stressing that the party must focus on selecting a candidate capable of addressing Nigeria’s complex challenges.

“At a time when Nigeria is bleeding from every pore — crippled by economic hardship, insecurity, rising debt, institutional failure, and deepening hopelessness — the question before the ADC is simple: who has the capacity not merely to campaign, but to govern effectively from day one?” he asked.

He maintained that the next president must possess experience in governance, economic management, coalition building and international engagement.

The former vice president pointed to the economic reforms implemented during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which he served as vice president, citing the privatisation programme, fiscal reforms and debt relief efforts as examples of leadership and policy competence.

“The economic reforms that helped reposition Nigeria, the privatisation drive that opened sectors, the fiscal discipline that contributed to debt relief, and the governance reforms of that era were not accidents. They were products of leadership, competence, and courage,” he said.

Atiku challenged delegates to carefully consider the implications of their choice.

“ADC delegates must ask themselves: do we want to make a statement, or do we want to make a president?” he queried.

He further argued that defeating an incumbent administration would require more than public excitement, insisting that the party must choose a candidate capable of building a broad national coalition across regions, religions and demographic groups.

“The ADC must think beyond sentiment. It must think about victory. It must think about governance. It must think about Nigeria. This is a defining election. The party needs a candidate with national acceptability, political resilience, tested structures, and the capacity to unify disparate interests into one winning coalition,” he said.

Atiku concluded by urging delegates to approach the primary election with a sense of national responsibility.

“History will remember this moment. The choice before ADC delegates is not merely about ambition. It is about destiny. Nigeria deserves rescue, not rhetoric,” he declared.

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