Atiku Abubakar Critiques APC's Expanded Campaign Council as a Sign of Political Fear

In a recent statement, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its expanded presidential campaign council, asserting that it reveals a deep-seated fear within President Bola Tinubu's administration. Atiku, who is the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), contends that the council's enlargement is less about addressing the dire challenges facing Nigerians and more about securing political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku's remarks come in the wake of the APC's initial release of its campaign council list on August 22, which appointed Abdulaziz Yari, the former governor of Zamfara State, as the director-general. The subsequent expansion saw the inclusion of prominent political figures such as Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory minister, Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, and Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, further indicating a strategic move to consolidate political support.

“Only a man afraid of his record would think he could bury it under hundreds of names,”

Atiku's statement, issued through Phrank Shaibu, the ADC campaign council's director of strategic communication, emphasized that merely adding names to the council will not alleviate the suffering caused by hunger, violence, and insecurity across the nation. He underscored that the families of victims of violence and kidnappings are not seeking political platitudes but rather tangible solutions to the crises affecting their lives.

The former vice-president's critique highlights a growing concern among Nigerians regarding the government's focus on political maneuvering rather than addressing the fundamental issues that plague the country. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the effectiveness of the APC's strategy will likely be scrutinized by both supporters and detractors alike.