2027: ADC receives ex-Ondo PDP gov candidate as Atiku tackles APC - Punch Newspapers

File: Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming general elections. Atiku, a former Vice President, made the call on Thursday in Akure, Ondo State, during the reception for a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Eyitayo Jegede, who formally defected to the ADC with his supporters. Atiku alleged that the APC-led administration had worsened the country’s economic situation and called on Nigerians to support the ADC in 2027. Addressing party members at the event, Atiku said the gathering was not a campaign rally but promised to return to the state to present the party’s plans to voters. He said, “This is not a campaign rally; this is a welcome rally. We are going to come back for a campaign rally. We will let you know what ADC is going to do for you, for your future and next generations of Nigerians. “Of course, we have started releasing teasers. We are committed to returning subsidy. Secondly, we are committed to returning security to all over this country. No part of this country will feel insecure anymore.” Atiku also criticised the APC administration over the state of the economy, while referring to the economic performance of the country during the period he served as Vice President. “Of course, you know what we did between 1999 and 2007. We took Nigeria to the best economy in Africa. Today, we are number five. The APC is responsible for taking us down,” he said.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “Is it not APC? So the best thing for us is to vote them out. There is this popular saying now which is that APC must go! Tinubu must go!” The ADC candidate also urged opposition supporters to mobilise voters and protect their votes during the 2027 elections. He cited the 2026 Osun State governorship election as an example of what he described as effective voter mobilisation and protection of votes. “We had a good example in the last governorship election in Osun State. What did we see there? We saw massive turnout of voters. We also saw massive protection of our votes,” Atiku said. “Therefore, the APC couldn’t do anything. This is what we must make sure happens in this state, in Ondo State.” Aiyedatiwa adopts AI system to automate Ondo civil service Ex-Labour Party South-West coordinator dumps party, defects to APC SMEDAN seeks traditional rulers’ role in national development Atiku assured the gathering that the ADC would return to Ondo State to present its policy proposals ahead of the election. The former Vice President also welcomed Jegede and his supporters into the ADC, describing the development as a positive step for the party. The National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, was represented at the event by the National Secretary of the party, Rauf Aregbesola. Aregbesola urged party members to mobilise voters and support ADC candidates in the forthcoming elections. He said, “I want to appeal to you to vote ADC and protect your votes in the coming general election. I also want to urge you to go and campaign from now on till January and February.” A former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, also addressed Hausa-speaking members of the party and urged them to work for the party’s success in the 2027 elections. Speaking at the event, Jegede said he joined the ADC because of what he described as the worsening economic situation in the country. He said, “There is unemployment in Nigeria; you can all see that. There is hardship; you can all see that. The suffering is too much. The journey has begun. “We want a democratic government. We are sure of winning the Senate, Reps and presidential elections. We are going to mobilise and unite to win come 2027.” Jegede also said members of the PDP loyal to him had moved to the ADC and pledged to mobilise support for the party across the state. “All the PDP members loyal to me have moved to ADC. We are going to let everyone know that ADC is the boss when we vote in January and February,” he said. “You can see things are costly; we are going to bring it down. It is our vote that will determine the strength of our political party. As we came out today, let’s vote ADC massively.” Peter Dada

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