By Emmanuel Onyedika
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has reopened his long-standing political disagreement with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, questioning the ex-president’s electoral strength during the 1999 presidential election.
Reacting to Obasanjo’s recent remarks about their political relationship, Atiku argued that the former president lacked sufficient support in his home state and the South-West at the time, insisting that votes from Northern Nigeria were decisive in his victory. “In 1999, he could not even win his own state or the South-West, it was Arewa that made him President, he possesses no electoral value,” Atiku said.
The exchange deepens tensions between the two former allies, who served together as president and vice-president from 1999 to 2007. Obasanjo had recently described his choice of Atiku as running mate in 1999 as the “biggest mistake” of his presidency, accusing him of disloyalty and involvement in an impeachment plot.
Atiku rejected Obasanjo’s account, accusing him of distorting history and stressing that he played a key role in building the political structure that secured their 1999 victory after Obasanjo’s release from prison.
Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election, Atiku said the disagreement should be viewed in the context of his bid to lead an opposition coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He also highlighted his record of empowering young Nigerians during his tenure as vice-president, noting that many beneficiaries later became governors, ministers, and senior public officials.
He pledged that if elected president in 2027, his administration would expand opportunities for young Nigerians to participate actively in governance and leadership.
Atiku is contesting the 2027 election on the platform of the ADC, having joined forces with other opposition figures to challenge the APC.