A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Austin Okai, says Atiku Abubakar is President Bola Tinubu’s strongest challenger ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election. Speaking on TVC’s “This Morning” show, Okai links his assessment to Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, arguing that rising inflation and unemployment, along with insecurity, have left many citizens unconvinced by government promises. He points to the effects of policy reforms associated with the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange as part of the hardship Nigerians are experiencing.
Okai also claims that opposition parties face intimidation and what he describes as inconsistencies in the justice system, but he maintains that public dissatisfaction can still create an opening for a credible alternative. He says the opposition’s chances improve if opposition leaders form a united coalition with a shared national agenda, under which Atiku would be best positioned to challenge Tinubu.
On party status, Okai welcomes a recent Court of Appeal ruling that nullifies the deregistration of the ADC and four other parties, describing it as a win for constitutional democracy. He calls for stronger judicial accountability and urges political leaders to focus on unemployment, insecurity and economic recovery.
