2027: I Won’t Allow Tinubu, APC To Rig Me Out Like In 2023, Atiku Vows In Sokoto

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has vowed that he would not allow President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig him out in the 2027 presidential election as was done in 2023.

Atiku, who flagged off his presidential campaign in Sokoto on Wednesday called on all party faithful to mobilise their families, friends and well-wishers to resist any form of rigging.

The former vice president, who spoke partly in Hausa, said the party would ensure that every vote counts and is announced as cast.

He said: “I appeal to every one of you to come out, mobilise your families, your friends and all well-wishers. Vote massively, protect your vote and make sure your vote is counted and announced. We will not allow what happened in the last elections to happen anymore. We will not allow Tinubu and APC to rig us out like they did in 2023.”

Atiku, who said the state government never wanted the event to hold, thanked God that the flag-off held despite alleged intimidation.

“The state government never wanted this event to hold, but by the grace of God, we are here today. This is a great party and a great force in West Africa,” he said.

He also reeled out his promises to Nigerians if elected in 2027, including tackling insecurity in every part of the country, returning fuel subsidy to cushion hardship and reopening borders for legitimate trade with neighbouring countries, particularly in the North.

“We are also promising to return wealth to the people, to all the people, to everybody in this country,” he added.

Earlier, National Chairman of the ADC, Sen. David Mark, said the mammoth crowd that welcomed the party from the airport to the campaign venue explains why the government was jittery.

He said: “I saw the mammoth crowd from the airport to this venue. Now I can see why the government was jittery for us to come here to hold this rally. If I were in government, I would also be afraid with this number of supporters.”

The flag-off was attended by former governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi, ADC governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, and other national leaders of the coalition.

LEADERSHIP reports that the event was earlier threatened by the sealing of the ADC campaign office by the Sokoto State Urban and Regional Planning Board over alleged planning approval, a move the party described as politically motivated.