Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is the only political platform capable of pulling Nigeria out of its worsening economic and security challenges.
His remarks came during the inauguration of the party’s new Taraba State office in Jalingo on Monday, marking his first major public appearance since formally joining the party.
Atiku, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier in July, just 17 months before the 2027 general elections, said his move to the ADC followed what he described as years of disappointment with the country’s major political parties.
Addressing supporters and party leaders, the former vice president said his political journey through the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP, and other platforms had convinced him that none possessed the discipline or vision to steer the nation out of its current crisis.
“We have tasted these parties.
“What they brought were insecurity, hunger, poverty, and joblessness. ADC is the only credible alternative left for Nigerians, ” he said.
Atiku urged residents of Taraba to take voter registration seriously if they hoped to change the nation’s political direction, especially under what he described as challenging economic realities.
He also appealed to young people and women to rally behind the ADC, insisting the party offered them the best chance of securing a more stable future.
“Hold this party with integrity. ADC will win Taraba State and win Nigeria because it remains the only trustworthy political option, ” he told the crowd.
Atiku joined a growing list of prominent politicians who have recently aligned with the ADC, including former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who earlier presented his membership card after joining the coalition in Kaduna.
Before his defection, Atiku had long been one of the PDP’s most influential figures and its presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023.
He cited irreconcilable differences within the party and repeated internal crises as reasons for his departure.
Meanwhile, former Edo State governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, dismissed Atiku’s claims, arguing that the former vice president had not demonstrated the leadership qualities needed to manage a complex nation like Nigeria.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Oshiomhole on Saturday said Atiku’s long-running inability to stabilise or reform the PDP undermined his credibility.
“If he couldn’t fix the PDP, a party he once shaped and benefitted from, how will he fix a country as large and diverse as Nigeria?” Oshiomhole asked.
He also recalled Atiku’s exit from the APC, saying the former vice president abandoned the party only after failing to secure its presidential ticket.
According to Oshiomhole, Atiku’s frequent party switches point to political opportunism rather than a genuine drive for reform.
“He’s been in APC, he returned to PDP, and now he’s in ADC. If he could not build the PDP that made him vice president, he certainly cannot build Nigeria,” Oshiomhole said.
The remarks highlight the heightened political tension ahead of the 2027 election cycle, with Atiku’s unexpected move to the ADC reshaping the political landscape and triggering strong reactions from both ally and rival camps.
