The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has assured Nigerians that its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, will provide a physically present and responsive presidency if elected in the 2027 presidential election.
The council said Atiku would not be an “absentee President” who would be unavailable when Nigerians needed presidential attention.
Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the Atiku Unity Movement, led by its leader, Francis Eburuwe.
According to a statement issued by Ologbondiyan, Atiku had consistently demonstrated an understanding of Nigeria’s economic and social challenges and proposed policy interventions to address them.
Ologbondiyan recalled that during the 2023 presidential campaign, Atiku advocated a phased approach to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, arguing that the process should not impose excessive pressure on Nigerians.
He said the experience of the past three years had reinforced the need for a presidency that was accessible, responsive and capable of taking timely decisions in the national interest.
“The country needs a President who understands the challenges confronting Nigerians and is physically available to respond to the demands of governance.
“Nigeria cannot afford a situation in which there is uncertainty over who is effectively directing the affairs of government at critical moments. The country requires firm and focused leadership,” he said.
Ologbondiyan said Atiku’s approach to governance would focus on addressing the country’s economic difficulties, improving citizens’ welfare and restoring confidence in public institutions.
He added that the ADC candidate’s recent economic proposals were focused on reducing the burden of rising energy and living costs.
Atiku has proposed a production-based intervention for petroleum products refined in Nigeria, with a fixed spending limit, National Assembly approval and independent audits.
The proposal has drawn criticism from the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, which has questioned its legal, fiscal and operational framework, including its compatibility with the Petroleum Industry Act.
Earlier, the leader of the Atiku Unity Movement delegation, Eburuwe, said the group was fully committed to the Atiku project and would mobilise Nigerians around what he described as the need for a change in the country’s political direction.
Eburuwe said the movement would take the message of Atiku’s candidacy to Nigerians across the country.
He expressed confidence that an Atiku administration would address the challenges facing the nation and improve the welfare of citizens.
He pledged the movement’s support for the ADC presidential campaign and called on its members to remain committed to grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
PUNCH Online reports that the statement came amid renewed attention to President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged stay outside Nigeria.
Tinubu left the country on August 30 for a three-week working vacation, which the Presidency later extended by a few days.
As of Monday, September 28, he had yet to return, with the Presidency saying he would be back during the week.
According to multiple reports, the president’s absence has sparked political debate, with opposition figures questioning his prolonged stay abroad, while the Presidency has maintained that he has continued to perform his official duties remotely.
