Aminu Tambuwal says ADC and Atiku pressure Tinubu ahead of 2027, as he highlights opposition growth and political realignment in Nigeria
Former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Friday, July 10, 2026, said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are creating significant political pressure for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
Also read: ADC Accuses APC of Holding El-Rufai Over 2027 Polls
Tambuwal made the claim while receiving former Tangaza Local Government Area Chairman Isa Salihu Bashir Kalanjeni into the ADC after his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former governor described the growing opposition movement as a challenge for the ruling party, alleging that efforts to weaken the ADC had failed.
“President Bola Tinubu, who is leaving office, has been staying up late because of the ADC. Everywhere he turns, he sees Atiku Abubakar,” Tambuwal said.
He further claimed that attempts had been made to prevent the ADC from gaining wider public attention but said those efforts had not succeeded.
“They have kept trying to stop the ADC from being made public, but God has prevented those plans from working,” he added.
The comments come as political parties and key figures begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition groups seeking to consolidate support against the APC-led federal government.
Tambuwal, who served as Sokoto governor from 2015 to 2023 and previously as Speaker of the House of Representatives, also criticised the government’s handling of national challenges, including insecurity and economic concerns.
He argued that some politicians remained hesitant to leave the APC because of the influence and advantages associated with being part of the ruling party.
“Most politicians who leave the ruling APC join other political parties instead of joining the ADC. Only people who care about the country’s interests, not their own, will join the ADC,” Tambuwal said.
The former governor’s remarks followed the defection of Kalanjeni, who became one of the latest political figures to move from the APC to the ADC.
The ADC has recently attracted attention as opposition figures explore possible alliances ahead of 2027, with Atiku Abubakar among the prominent politicians linked to efforts aimed at building a stronger alternative political platform.
President Tinubu, who emerged victorious in the 2023 presidential election, has maintained that his administration’s economic reforms are designed to strengthen Nigeria’s long-term growth despite criticism from opposition figures and some sections of the public.
Also read: Tinubu’s Biggest Opponent Is Not Obi or Atiku… It’s Tinubu
The political contest ahead of 2027 is expected to intensify as parties begin expanding their structures and presenting competing visions for the country’s future.
