Does Atiku's Victory Change The 2027 Landscape? | Politics Today

追加: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00][music] >> Thanks so much everyone for staying with us on the program. Let's get into our next set of conversation about the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as [snorts] a candidate of the ADC. Although there are controversy because as as far as we know today, there are people two people bearing that title of presidential candidate of the ADC. The first that emerged was on Sunday which is Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu who was a flag bearer of the ADC in 2023. Mr. Atiku is the ADC candidate two. We have ADC candidate one.

[00:00:37]So, in the real sense Atiku Abubakar being on the ballot, what does this mean? Let's get into the conversation and I'm being joined by two gentlemen, Ladan Salihu who is an ADC member and here with me in the studio is Mr. Ladimeji Farbi who was also an ADC member. Thank you so much indeed gentlemen for joining us.

[00:00:59]>> Thank you so much for having me.

[00:01:00]>> You almost could predict that Atiku was going to win the race, isn't it?

[00:01:04]>> No.

[00:01:05]You couldn't predict. You thought Lamich was going to beat him? No.

[00:01:08]>> What did you think?

[00:01:10]>> I just felt the process would throw the best candidate and that was exactly what the process did.

[00:01:15]The election, the guidelines of the party talked about how the process should go and exactly what happened. The process the party member decided who they want they wanted and then they spoke and they spoke very loudly and you could see the the outcome of the result.

[00:01:30]And that produced Atiku Abubakar. We we are lucky to have um a leadership of the party that are so that that are so careful and then they're so determined that you know about what they wanted to achieve. And they've achieved it so I commend Senator David Mark and and the entire national working committee for providing that level playing field for everybody. Of course there's some way you you can't you can't run away from the fact that there will be there will be pockets of issues here, but those are not strong enough to actually consume the party.

[00:02:03]>> One of the best things that Atiku Abubakar knows how to do is to win primaries.

[00:02:08]>> He has actually won election before.

[00:02:10]>> Which of them?

[00:02:11]>> He won governorship election in Adamawa.

[00:02:13]>> That was a long time. How old were you then?

[00:02:14]>> It doesn't matter.

[00:02:15]>> Like >> But at least we are talking about >> be how how old were you when I was talking to >> We are talking about history here.

[00:02:20]We are talking about history here now.

[00:02:21]>> This was this was 20 27 years ago or 26 years ago.

[00:02:24]>> We are talking about history here.

[00:02:26]>> Yeah, we are talking about history.

[00:02:27]>> If you say he has never he has he has won an election >> No, I'm not saying he has never won an election.

[00:02:32]I said that some of the best thing he knows how to do what what he knows how to do most is winning primaries.

[00:02:37]>> No, it's not that's not true.

[00:02:38]>> I'll give it to him.

[00:02:39]>> you know how to you know how to win an election.

[00:02:41]>> He's won primaries in the in the last four five election cycles.

[00:02:43]>> He knows how to win election, too. We all know how what happened in 2019.

[00:02:47]>> more elections >> We That That is that is >> more than more elections than he's won primaries.

[00:02:52]>> That is because of that is the kind of because of the system we run in this country. We knew what happened in 2019.

[00:02:57]We knew what happened in 2023. Even in 2007, we knew what happened. So, let's just leave that.

[00:03:02]Yes.

[00:03:02]>> I I I want to ask you give us an understanding. I have to be there. It doesn't the process is is skewed. I mentioned that the same thing that is a rigged process. Your your party has now been alleged to be a rigging machine for Atiku Abubakar. Can Nigeria really trust this mandate given to Atiku Abubakar?

[00:03:26]>> Well, it's the usual narrative you hear from sycophants in and out of the system who believe that Nigeria should just be tailored towards one attitude, one way of thinking. Not necessarily thinking out of the box. We are literally politically pigeonholed by sentiments, by negative attitudes and negativities, and by people who, you know, fill the space, the political space with bad literature.

[00:04:03]That tend to give Nigerians that one some statesman is on the ballot, he should be put on the spot.

[00:04:11]Government cannot be put on the spot that is bringing and has brought poverty to Nigerians, that has brought shame in the political circle across the globe.

[00:04:25]Look at what played out at the primaries of the APC.

[00:04:31]People are not talking about it. The media is not talking about it.

[00:04:35]The characters that, you know, participated in turning the mathematics of counting, not knowing that these images will go around the world.

[00:04:48]In London, in Washington, in Beijing, in South Africa and other places, they will look at us and we have become a laughingstock.

[00:04:59]Such attitude did not even exist in the Stone Age, in the age of Homo sapiens.

[00:05:07]And instead of us being asked questions that are relevant to the candidate that we believe will bring not only hope to Nigerians, but has the quality, the pedigree, the experience, the knowledge, the capacity and eligibility.

[00:05:25]Who amongst the political gladiators that are on the table today beginning from Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Kachuku to to everyone else?

[00:05:35]Who has the credentials to match Atiku Abubakar? And each time this gentleman is out on the radar to put his life, his wealth, his experience, and his time to even do that at the expense of his own businesses.

[00:05:52]All you hear from, you know, the other side, negative comments.

[00:05:58]>> And I I was asking Mr. Just just if if I'm able to I asked earlier, I said, "Look, yes, an overwhelming defeat to his opponent, but those opponents have accused the process they've rejected the process, alleged manipulation and irregularities. How can Nigerians trust the credibility of the primary election that key contestants themselves have publicly disowned?"

[00:06:24]>> No, you see, Shehu, I am here in Kaduna.

[00:06:29]I have supervised these primary elections in the state in the zone three senatorial district to be precise in southern Kaduna.

[00:06:40]And I have seen in words where I made Shehu defeated Atiku, defeated Hayatudeen, it and everybody's a vote under my watch counted.

[00:06:56]I can tell you that Atiku's victory in these primaries is authentic, is credible, is you can have any democracy, you know, glitches here and there, but substantially 99% of what played out in the APC primary can be can be celebrated within the circumstances that we >> Mr. Salihu, Mr. Salihu, the fact that Atiku won that is not surprising to someone like me. I said it, the last time you were on this program, I told you I said I could predict close your eyes and Atiku is going to win. Atiku is going to defeat them. I told I said it, but the fact that the irregularities that that are being attributed to the primary in videos and even some of the candidates the other candidate contenders have come out with videos saying that the process has been skewed manipulated but beyond that just give me a moment. Let me ask Mr. Lamidi Ajibola that Atiku Abubakar was contested severely for president multiple times different political platforms over the last three decades.

[00:08:05]But those who have argued that his ambition now appears more personal than ideological. What exactly is new about Atiku in 2027 that Nigerians have not already seen before?

[00:08:17]>> Well, I disagree with those who are saying his ambition is more personal.

[00:08:21]Uh no, that's not true.

[00:08:23]Uh I think he's about patriotic zeal to the country that has done a lot for him and he felt I have what it takes to to give back to this country to give back to the people.

[00:08:35]I think it's just about that. So, when anybody comes up and say that I I I just I ignore them because I don't for as far as I'm concerned they they're not making any sense. So, here is the man that has given his life he has been a vice president he has done so much for this country. In this country this guy has got you know has done so so a lot a lot he went to court sometimes and got judgment that has enriched our enriched our case laws in this country. He has done so many talked about economy. When he was the vice president we knew what he did. So, for as far as I'm concerned when people talk about like that I just these ones don't know what they're saying.

[00:09:09]>> So, is on >> I think it's out of I think >> Is it a comparison now is it about ideology and the multiplicity of times that he has contested across multiple platforms ideology or personality? Does he just wanted to be president? Is that what it is for him?

[00:09:23]>> Okay, what is left for him? He has been a vice president. And he believes he has what it takes to to to to lead this country.

[00:09:28]>> So, he wants to be president at all costs is it any any platform >> not any platform it's not at all costs because What is How would anybody have problem about the number of times someone has someone is throwing himself, you know, to to for something for the number of >> look towards Atiku other than Tinubu?

[00:09:45]>> Because Atiku is far far better. Atiku has Atiku has more to offer this country. Atiku will never be a president and the country will be going through this kind of insecurity. Economy will not be like this. He has done it before.

[00:09:56]Go and check his record. He's talking about records now. Let's let's interrogate his record.

[00:10:00]He was a vice president in this country and we knew what he did about economy.

[00:10:04]Most of the things that we see today some of its channel framework that are working that have worked for this country were under his supervision.

[00:10:12]The GSM you carry today that some youths are using to abuse him now, he revolutionized it. So, these are the things he had Let's let's interrogate the records. That's exactly what we're saying.

[00:10:21]>> Can you categorically say uh Mr. Amechi, can you categorically say that Amechi will campaign for Atiku in 2027?

[00:10:29]>> He's going to campaign for Let me tell you something about this See, >> Are you going to be the >> Just just hold >> Have you Have you decided who's going to be the >> just just hold on. We are not We have not decided We have not decided on anything and the the party will do what is needed. But let me say this. See, the grievances of Amechi and Hayatu Deen are very valid.

[00:10:50]You know why I say that? Because there must be a process that is seen to be free, to be fairer and credible.

[00:10:59]And that's exactly what the party has done. I remember a couple of weeks ago both Mr. Atiku Abubakar and Amechi committed to the fact that whoever wins these primaries we will support. They made this commitment.

[00:11:14]>> Before the hostilities.

[00:11:15]>> The only person who didn't make the commitment there was the young man that the gentleman that went into NDC. So so so and as as as somebody wants to be president, you must be able to subject yourself to the process of primaries. It shouldn't be a coronation. And that's exactly what the party has done. So, that I'm happy that Atiku has taken the initiative in alignment initiative that is in alignment with the party's vision that okay, reach out to these people.

[00:11:36]Today you want to see Governor Amaechi.

[00:11:39]Tomorrow maybe tomorrow or next is going to be the all road leads to Lagos to see Elijah today and talk about it because we need those people in the government. You can't take it away from Amaechi. Amaechi is huge on policy formulation for policy articulation. He's good on He has executive experience. You can't take that away. I have to deal with He's an economist, he's a banker, seasoned banker a private sector person. We need all of these people to come together and let us do I mean >> Mr. Mr. Atiku >> for this country.

[00:12:07]>> Mr. Atiku, although I don't I I really don't like talking about this club because they disgust me in every way. It's is an opposition club to my to the team I support in London.

[00:12:17]But do you know Melaye has compared and this this is not funny. I don't like Arsenal. I never wish they won the Premier League.

[00:12:26]But do you know Melaye has brought a comparison about how Arsenal is because Atiku Abubakar is an Arsenal fan and said that since Arsenal could do it Atiku Abubakar should go ahead and do it. There's one to take ticket. But the major worry for some Nigerians would be that the opposition scored an own goal and may not be able to triumph because one leg is Atiku winning the ticket which may be Arsenal winning the Premier League. But on Saturday they will face humiliation from PSG in the Champions League final.

[00:13:05]And the humiliation that that the opposition might face in the hands of Tinubu in 2027, the own goal that a lot of people thought that the opposition may have played on itself is not aligning themselves to come to to coalesce. A lot of people will be to go and all of that.

[00:13:23]Is is it a doomsday for the opposition? what factor would Atiku bring to bear if opposition are not able to come together?

[00:13:35]>> You see, a journey to a greater and more prosperous uh more politically developed Nigeria may well have and you know, begun.

[00:13:48]Uh Atiku Abubakar's foot I can predict.

[00:13:52]One foot is already in the presidential villa. Why?

[00:13:56]Because there is going to be a mix mismatch in the forthcoming elections.

[00:14:01]In 2027, there is a mismatch that will be as clear as chalk is from cheese, as clear as you you shown removing the reins of a horse and, you know, trying to don it on on on on a goat. Uh this is because we believe that our candidate, like my brother said, you know, Mr. Femi, has all it takes to, you know, give Nigeria the best kind of leadership that is in consonance with our own pedigree, with our own uh visibility around the globe, and uh bringing about the kind of the economic prosperity and development. And Atiku is a team member, he's a team builder, he's a team leader, and he has proven this time and again over the years. These are some of the qualities that he's going to bring to the table. And he has an agenda, he has a document, and the AP uh the ADC has a document that we will present to Nigerians that will make it very clear it is the way to go.

[00:15:13]>> You think Atiku has a pathway different from what we saw in 2023?

[00:15:16]>> Fantastic. Fantastic. You you need to take time to go through them. And again, we're going to review >> Tinubu has beaten him once.

[00:15:22]You think he How did How did he win the >> Tinubu win?

[00:15:25]>> Did Tinubu truly win in the real sense of it? Let us you know what I'm talking about. So let this is going to be different. See.

[00:15:32]>> I am praying that Nigerians wake up from their slumber.

[00:15:37]Uh is their decision if they want to remain same old the same.

[00:15:39]But what ADC has offered is an alternative that will take them out of the woods and the condition APC government has put them into. So that's all.

[00:15:47]>> Adegboyega Aladeniyi gentlemen, thanks for watching this for a time too.

[00:15:50]>> Thank you very much. Thank >> Thank you.

[00:15:52]>> I can't I can't wait for Saturday because I see Chelsea like a PSG in the final against Arsenal.

[00:15:59]Let them beating >> [laughter] >> The only team in London is Chelsea. But thanks so much indeed gentlemen. That's our show for tonight everyone. Many thanks for watching. I'm Shola Akinwale.

[00:16:09]God bless Nigeria.