Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that governors defecting to the All Progressives Congress are doing so for personal survival rather than out of genuine political conviction.
In a statement issued on Friday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku reacted to the defection of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC. He stressed that every politician has the constitutional right to associate with any political platform of their choice.
The former vice president, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, described the 2027 general election as a referendum on President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC administration.
According to Atiku, political alignments and realignments are not unusual in a democracy, noting that even members of his family are free to hold independent political views. However, he argued that the increasing number of opposition governors joining the APC reflects mounting pressure and intimidation rather than the popularity or strength of the ruling party.
He accused the Tinubu administration of deploying state institutions against perceived opponents in what he described as an attempt to entrench a one party state. “This government fears accountability. It fears credible elections. It fears the people,” the statement read.
Atiku further questioned what the APC would campaign on in 2027, citing hunger, hardship and economic struggles facing many Nigerians. He warned citizens not to equate political defections with public support and urged voters to safeguard their future at the ballot box.
“Do not trade your future. In 2027, the people will have their say and their will shall prevail,” he said.
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