Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar believes that the 2027 presidential election will be decided by Nigerians, not the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja, Atiku’s media adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, emphasized that the coalition being built is people-driven and has the support of political stakeholders.
“The APC and PDP may have dominated politics for a while, but what is clear is that Nigerians are the real force, and they will determine what happens in 2027. The people will always remain, as long as Nigeria exists. The most important element is the Nigerian people,” Ibe said.
He stated that there is growing enthusiasm among Nigerians to take control of their destinies, noting that various groups have begun aligning with the coalition.
“We have seen their enthusiasm and their desire to take their destinies into their own hands. We have seen all manner of groups emerge,” he said.
According to him, support has also come from individuals and groups outside of politics who are devoted to developing the alliance.
“There is strong support from well-meaning groups and individuals, many of whom are not even politicians, who are willing to partner with the coalition. Structures are already being put in place,” he added.
Ibe also cited recent political realignments as proof of the coalition’s growing strength. He mentioned a significant development in Lagos, where thousands of PDP supporters officially switched to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“We saw what happened in Lagos recently, where 5,000 critical stakeholders and PDP leaders transferred their services and assets to the ADC. Many more are on their way. A lot is happening, yes,” he noted.
Amid growing defections and civil groups uniting behind the coalition, Ibe asserted that the political factors leading up to 2027 point to a struggle in which Nigerians’ will, rather than the dominance of the APC or PDP, will prevail.
