Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar has declared that President Bola Tinubu cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box, insisting that he remains in the presidential race.
In a statement issued on Friday in Sokoto, Atiku said no manipulation or court ruling can erase his place in the contest, silence his campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future.
Atiku accused the ruling party of deploying political pressure, manufactured narratives, courtroom manoeuvres and attempts to compromise the voters’ register with AI-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities to weaken the opposition.
“Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people. No manipulation, conjecture or concoction can erase our place in this contest, silence our campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future. We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide.
“Those who boast of having thirty-two governors and claim to have bought, pressured or coerced leaders from other parties into their fold should have no reason to fear a free and fair contest. Yet, instead of presenting their record to Nigerians, they continue to deploy every tactic available to weaken the opposition,” he said.
The former vice president added, “These are not the actions of people confident in their record. They are calculated attempts to make genuine competition impossible and push Nigeria towards a one-party state.”
He criticised the Tinubu administration’s record, citing the removal of fuel subsidy without a plan to protect Nigerians, the steep decline of the naira, rising food prices, closure of factories and small businesses, youth migration and worsening insecurity.
“Look around you. Market stalls stand empty. Feeding your family has become a daily struggle. Fuel prices keep rising, and silent pain fills homes across the country.
“Those in power may want you to believe that your suffering does not matter. They may want you to surrender your future before you even reach the ballot box. Do not lose heart. Do not retreat. Your vote is your power, and together, we will take our country back,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president reassured his supporters that he is not withdrawing from the race.
“Let me be clear to every Nigerian who has stood with us: I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot. No threat, blackmail or court manoeuvre will make me abandon you or the cause we share,” he said.
He vowed to resist every attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, insisting that democracy must remain open to more than one party and more than one voice.
“If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest,” he said.
Atiku added that his campaign will continue and its message on the cost of living will not be silenced or derailed, urging supporters to stay calm, united and resolute.
“Let me say this plainly: Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box,” he said.
