Nigerians Should Decide Election, Not Courts, says Atiku aide Demola Olarenwaju, who calls for a free and fair 2027 presidential poll
Demola Olarenwaju, Senior Political Assistant to African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has said the outcome of the 2027 presidential election should be determined by Nigerian voters rather than the courts, expressing confidence that the opposition party faces no obstacles to participating in the poll.
Also read:Â 2027: Makinde Names APM Presidential Campaign Coordinator
Speaking during an interview with News Central TV on Wednesday, Olarenwaju said the ADC expects a democratic contest in which political parties freely present their candidates and programmes to the electorate.
Olarenwaju said the party was not anticipating any legal or political barriers ahead of the election, stressing that the ballot box should remain the ultimate arbiter of the presidential race.
“In a normal democratic setting, we don’t expect any hurdles to face. We believe that the path is cleared. When campaign starts, let’s go into the field and let Nigerians know what the candidates have and let them vote for whoever they want,” Olarenwaju said.
He added that the credibility of the electoral process would depend on respecting the will of the electorate rather than relying on judicial outcomes.
“The 2027 election should be decided by the ballot and not by the court. It should be decided on the fate of democracy and not by any judicial ruling or judgment. This is what we are proposing to Nigerians, that let the rule of law prevail.”
Olarenwaju also challenged the ruling party to allow what he described as an open and competitive election if it was confident in its record in government.
“If the ruling party believes that it has performed creditably well to win the next election, then they should allow others to go to the field, let the contest play out and let Nigerians vote for whoever they want. If they defeat us, that’s fine, but if we defeat them, they need to own it and say yes, we have been defeated and voted out by Nigerians,” he said.
The presidential aide further called on politicians who had previously left the ADC over concerns about legal uncertainties to return and unite behind the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also read:Â 2027: Makinde Names APM Presidential Campaign Coordinator
The remarks come as political parties continue to strengthen their structures and build alliances in preparation for the next general elections, with several opposition groups advocating greater cooperation to challenge the ruling party.
