Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday appeared before the Presidential Screening Panel of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja, in a closed-door session as part of early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He presented his credentials for verification and assessment under the party’s nomination process, an exercise he later described as smooth and productive.
Speaking briefly with journalists after the session, the former Vice President declined to elaborate further but said, “The screening went well.”
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku was said to have used the opportunity to present what he described as a comprehensive economic rescue blueprint alongside a national security reform agenda aimed at addressing Nigeria’s deepening challenges.
According to the statement, he told the panel that his vision goes beyond party politics, describing it as “an opportunity to present a practical and urgent pathway for rescuing Nigeria from the grip of economic stagnation, mass unemployment, institutional drift, and the horrifying insecurity that has left innocent citizens vulnerable to massacres, kidnappings, and terror attacks.”
He warned that Nigeria could not continue on its current trajectory of economic hardship and policy uncertainty, which he said continues to weaken livelihoods and erode investor confidence.
The statement quoted Atiku as saying that ”Nigeria cannot continue on the current trajectory where families struggle daily under crushing hardship, businesses collapse under policy uncertainty, and investor confidence continues to erode in the absence of coherent economic leadership.”
On economic reforms, he outlined plans centred on job creation, expansion of the private sector, fiscal discipline, macroeconomic stability, and policies aimed at restoring investor trust and driving sustainable growth.
On security, he expressed concern over rising violence across the country, describing the situation as unacceptable and deeply troubling.
“Atiku expressed concern over the relentless bloodshed across the country, saying that no responsible government can stand by while citizens are slaughtered in their communities and others abducted on highways, farms, and even in their homes.”
He further proposed intelligence-led operations, improved coordination among security agencies, decentralised security frameworks, and stronger political will to confront criminal networks.
“At this defining moment in our national life, Nigeria does not need experiments. It needs tested leadership, clarity of vision, and the courage to make difficult but necessary decisions in the national interest,” he was quoted as saying.
He reaffirmed his commitment to building a secure, united, and prosperous country where citizens can live in peace and pursue opportunities with dignity.
