… Says Peter Obi not democratic

The Presidential candidate of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) Alh. Atiku Abubakar has again come under heavy criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) urging him to rather embark on retirement from active politics.

The ruling APC alleged Alh. Atiku has failed to demonstrate the capacity to address the country’s socioeconomic challenges when he served as Vice President insisted the ADC candidate has nothing to offer Nigerians.

Briefing journalists Thursday in Kano, APC Presidential Campaign Spokesperson Mallam Alwan Hassan accused Atiku of seeking to govern a country whose longstanding challenges he (Atiku) allegedly contributed to during his eight years as Vice President.

The APC campaign spokesperson challenged the opposition candidate to accept responsibility for the country’s unresolved problems rather than present himself as the solution, having taken critical role in the running of the nation’s economy during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

In his critism, Hassan maintained that Atiku’s repeated but unsuccessful presidential bids has demonstrated a clear indication that Nigerians’ are not willing to entrust the destiny of the country in him.

The APC chieftain also questioned the source of the former Vice President’s wealth, alleging that his transition from customs service to a billionaire remained insufficiently explained.

He further raised concerns over report that Atiku was disposing of some of his properties to finance his political ambition, warning against the possibility of public office being used to recover personal political investments.

“It is extremely offensive that Atiku, who served in an administration and was a member of the party that created and left many of Nigeria’s longstanding problems unresolved, now presents himself as the answer to those same problems,” the statement read.

Hassan refused claims that the North will not vote President Tinubu, further challenged Atiku to provide evidence of his contributions to the region’s socioeconomic development over the past 27 years.

He queried the former Vice President’s commitment to the North, alleging that his business interests and investments outside Nigeria contradicted his professed concern for the region.

“And on the North, Atiku must account for his record. The people of the North deserve more than declarations of his pretentious concern. What has he done for the North in 27 years? Where are his investments? In Dubai! Yet he wants us to believe he has the North’s interest at heart?” Hassan queried.

On the chances of the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi in the 2027 general election, Hassan insisted the North will not risk their votes for any other candidates accept for President Tinubu.

Hassan alleged that the former Governor of Anambra state has never desmotrated any attribute of a democrat having failed to conduct local government elections for eight years during his administration.

The APC claimed Obi had kept dumping parties for another to secure easy ride due to lack of courage to confront party primaries and opposition.

Speaking on while the North will vote Tinubu for re-election in 2027, Hassan submitted that the President capital investment and social economic welfare of his policies in the region were enough to justify victory.

The APC Presidential Campaign Spokesperson claimed that Tinubu assumed office when Nigeria faced serious economic challenges and the country struggling with substantial fiscal pressures, while fragmented foreign exchange market, and rising inflation and a public finance system were under strain.

‏According to him, “the Federal Government’s State of the Economy presentation delivered to the Federal Executive Council on 28 October 2026, Nigeria’s economy grew by only 2.74 per cent in 2023.

“At the beginning of the administration, the country had net usable external reserves of approximately $859 million, despite gross reserves of about $35 billion. The foreign exchange market was characterised by multiple windows and a spread exceeding 60 per cent.

“The tax-to-GDP ratio stood at approximately 7 per cent, while debt servicing consumed about 97 per cent of government revenue.

“The administration responded with reforms intended to address the structural weaknesses in public finance, foreign exchange management and the allocation of national resources.

“The removal of petrol subsidy and the restructuring of the foreign exchange market were among the most consequential decisions. They also imposed significant adjustment costs on Nigerians.

“However, nearly three and a half years into the administration, the available economic indicators provide an opportunity to assess the progress that we have made.

“The Nigerian economy recorded real GDP growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with annual growth of 2.74 per cent in 2023”. Hassan said.