Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he will not participate in any presidential debate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election unless President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are also represented.
In a statement signed by his official spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, Atiku described debates involving only opposition candidates as an unacceptable arrangement that could divert public scrutiny from the ruling party and set opposition groups against one another.
Atiku, who is positioned in the statement as the leader of a coalition of opposition parties and political leaders, argued that a credible presidential debate must bring the ruling party and the opposition together.
He said Nigerians deserve the opportunity to hear competing candidates explain their policies, plans and strategies for addressing the country’s challenges before making an informed choice in 2027.
“HE Atiku Abubakar challenges President Bola Tinubu to a national presidential debate,” the statement said, framing such an encounter as a necessary test of leadership and accountability.
While ruling out participation in debates that pit opposition candidates against one another, Atiku said he remained ready to engage Nigerians through interviews, town hall meetings, press conferences and other public forums.
The statement also accused the APC-led administration of using opposition-only debates to shield itself from scrutiny, allegations that are likely to intensify the political contest ahead of the 2027 election.
With the opposition coalition seeking to present a united front, Atiku’s position raises the stakes for debate organisers and places the spotlight directly on President Tinubu and the APC.
The message is clear: for Atiku, there will be no opposition-only contest. If Nigerians are to hear the major political alternatives side by side, he says the President and the ruling party must take their place at the table.
