Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a strong attack on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as “a party of forgers and riggers” and accusing it of weakening Nigeria’s democratic process.
Atiku spoke in Minna, Niger State, after a closed-door meeting with former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), at his residence. The meeting lasted for nearly two hours, with journalists and political supporters waiting outside the compound.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Atiku did not hold back in his criticism of the ruling party.
“What do you expect? APC generally is a party of forgers and riggers. They forge everything, certificates, age limits, they forge everything. That is the hallmark of APC,” he said.
His comments come at a time of growing political debate over electoral reforms and proposed tax changes by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, has remained a vocal critic of the APC-led Federal Government. After the 2023 polls, he challenged the outcome of the presidential election in court but lost at the Supreme Court.
The APC has repeatedly denied allegations of election manipulation and insists that its victories in past elections were won fairly and in line with the law.
During his remarks, Atiku also criticised the outcome of the Senate’s emergency plenary session on electoral reforms, particularly the decision on how election results should be transmitted.
He said Nigerians had expected a clear system of real-time electronic transmission of election results at all levels. Instead, he said, the Senate approved a system that combines electronic and manual transmission.
“First and foremost, it is below the expectation of Nigerians, because Nigerians were expecting real-time transmission of election results at the various levels,” Atiku said.
“What we got instead is a mixture of electronic and manual transmission, which is going to cause more confusion and chaos than if we had a single-tier electronic transmission of results.”
The issue of electronic transmission of election results has been a major topic in Nigeria’s recent electoral reforms. Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and promised electronic transmission of results to improve transparency.
However, disputes over the uploading and transmission of results during the 2023 presidential election led to legal battles and public protests. Opposition parties argued that the process did not fully meet expectations, while INEC maintained that it followed existing laws and guidelines.
Atiku said political parties and citizens must not allow the issue to rest.
“We must come together to pursue this issue. We shouldn’t allow it to rest where they want it to rest. Absolutely not. I don’t support that,” he added.
Political observers say the debate over result transmission is likely to continue as Nigeria prepares for future elections. Many civil society groups have called for clearer laws that remove any ambiguity in the electoral process.
When asked whether he would contest the 2027 presidential election, Atiku dismissed the idea for now. He said the question does not arise at the moment, noting that he is now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“The question of contesting the 2027 election does not even arise. I am a member of ADC and we are busy ensuring our structures are firmly rooted at ward, local, state, and national levels,” he said.
Atiku’s recent political move to the ADC has drawn attention across the country. The ADC, once considered a smaller political party, has been working to expand its presence nationwide. With Atiku’s involvement, the party is expected to attract more members and gain stronger visibility.
He said the focus of the ADC is currently on mobilisation and registration of members across the country. According to him, the party is building its structures from the grassroots level.
Atiku also pointed out that the ADC does not practise zoning in its constitution. Zoning is a political arrangement where key offices, including the presidency, are rotated among regions of the country to promote fairness and national unity.
He noted that zoning is formally entrenched in the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but not in the ADC.
The issue of zoning has been a sensitive topic in Nigerian politics for many years. Supporters argue that it promotes inclusion in a country with many ethnic and regional groups. Critics say competence should be placed above regional considerations.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, also visited former Military President Babangida in a separate closed-door meeting at the same residence in Minna. Unlike Atiku, Makinde declined to speak with journalists after his meeting.
General Babangida, who ruled Nigeria as military president from 1985 to 1993, remains an influential political figure. His Minna residence often hosts politicians from different parties seeking consultations and advice.
The back-to-back visits by Atiku and Makinde have sparked political interest, especially as discussions around electoral reforms and party realignments continue.
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