Atiku could be excluded from Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard
Paul Ibe, adviser to former Nigerian vice-president Atiku Abubakar, criticised Festus Keyamo’s remarks about a possible exclusion of Atiku from the 2027 presidential election. He said excluding a major candidate would weaken confidence in the electoral process, with the election scheduled for 16 January 2027.
Paul Ibe, adviser to former Nigerian vice-president Atiku Abubakar, accused Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo of playing down the consequences of a possible exclusion of Atiku from the January 2027 presidential election. Ibe argued that the absence of a major candidate would weaken voters’ confidence in the democratic process, in a message published on Facebook and reported by Vanguard.
Ibe asked why the APC, the party of President Bola Tinubu, would accept a presidential election without Atiku if it believes the head of state can defend his record before voters. He said supporters of the former vice-president planned to turn their support into votes in the election scheduled for 16 January 2027.
Atiku’s adviser also said his supporters would defend through legal means their right to choose their candidate and would take part in the vote. He said he expected strong support for the former vice-president, according to Vanguard.
Paul Ibe’s position comes as Atiku maintains his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election despite its judicial annulment, a situation reported on 6 November in Atiku maintains presidential candidacy despite annulment.
Update of 7 November 2026: The Nigerian electoral commission said it had not received a certified copy of the ruling invalidating the leadership of the ADC and the candidacies arising from that leadership. Read: INEC keeps Atiku as candidate for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
