Atiku challenges Tinubu to debate ahead of 2027 polls

Former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, stated that he will only engage in debates before the 2027 general elections if President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also participate.

This was stated by the former vice president in a statement released by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, on Tuesday.

The statement further stressed that debates will serve as an opportunity for candidates from the ruling political party and those from the opposition parties to showcase their policies and programs to Nigerians.

Atiku criticised debates that involve only opposition candidates, describing the practice as unacceptable and accusing the APC-led government of using such platforms to divert attention from its own record.

“Political contest worldwide has always been between the ruling party and the opposition parties. Presidential debates worldwide have also been organised between the ruling party and the opposition,” the statement said.

The former vice president argued that excluding the ruling party from presidential debates could deny Nigerians the opportunity to properly assess the competing political programmes ahead of the election.

He therefore made his participation in any presidential debate conditional on the presence of Tinubu and the APC.

“Atiku Abubakar, as the leader of the coalition of opposition parties and leaders, is left with no other choice than to make his appearance in any presidential debates conditional on the participation of President Bola Tinubu and the APC,” Okonkwo stated.

The ADC candidate also challenged Tinubu to participate in a national presidential debate where both sides would explain their policies and how they intend to implement them.

He said such an engagement would enable Nigerians to make a more informed decision when they go to the polls in 2027.

“There is no hiding place for APC in 2027,” the statement added.

Despite his position on presidential debates, Atiku said he remained willing to engage Nigerians through other platforms, including interviews, town hall meetings, press conferences and direct interactions with voters.

He, however, maintained that he would not participate in an arrangement that pits opposition candidates against one another while the ruling party remains absent.

“Atiku Abubakar is willing to engage the Nigerian people through interviews, townhall meetings, press conferences, and any other forum of interaction with the people but will not participate in any arrangement that will pit the opposition against itself and give undue advantage to APC,” the statement said.

The latest development comes as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the performance of the Tinubu administration expected to remain a major issue in the campaign.