Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described incumbent President Bola Tinubu as a “very bad president”
, saying his administration has fallen short of expectations in economic management and governance.

Atiku, a leading chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remark on Wednesday evening during an appearance on ARISE News’ Prime Time Special, where he also spoke about the opposition coalition on the platform of the ADC and the prospects of unseating President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Responding to a question on whether the coalition’s objective was simply to remove Tinubu from office, Atiku said the alliance was driven by both political strategy and dissatisfaction with the current administration.

“Let me say both, because Bola has been a very bad president, to be honest with you,” Atiku said. “I didn’t expect that from him in the way he governs the country, whether economically or otherwise. It’s a disappointment.”

On the goal of the opposition coalition, Atiku explained that while the coalition was focused on broader democratic reforms, including strengthening institutions and improving separation of powers, opposition to the incumbent president remained a key motivation.

“A number of things unite us. For instance, the issue of deepening our democratic institutions and separation of powers under the Constitution,” he said. “We are concerned about how institutions that are supposed to serve as checks and balances are being weakened.”

He argued that the presidency had become overly dominant, warning that such a trend could undermine Nigeria’s democratic structure.

Atiku, who is making 7th attempt at the Nigeria’s presidency in 2027, also defended his role in forming the opposition coalition, saying he was among its principal initiators following the 2023 elections.

“I am one of the initiators of this coalition, or perhaps the leading initiator,” he said. “After the last election, I told the PDP leadership that I did not see a future for the party without a broad-based coalition or alliance.”

According to him, his proposal was rejected at the time, but recent political developments in the PDP have validated his position.

On his departure from the PDP, Atiku said it was informed by a decline in the party’s electoral strength and internal divisions.

He said: “There was a decline in the popularity of the PDP and the states they were winning. There was no way they could have won on their own without a coalition.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, the South East Youths for Progressives (SEY4P) has called on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to contest the Abia State governorship election, assuring him of overwhelming youth support across the state.

The  publicity Secretary of the group, Mercy Nwaogu, in a statement issued yesterday said the call became imperative following growing interest and agitation among youths who have continued to express confidence in the leadership capacity of the Deputy Speaker.

The group highlighted the role of Kalu in restoring the confidence of youths in the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing him as a unifying figure whose leadership continues to inspire a new wave of political participation among young people in the South-east.

It noted, “We have received numerous enquiries from members and youths across the state, seeking to know whether Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu will be on the ballot in 2027.

“There is a clear and consistent assurance from these groups that they are ready to mobilise, support, and work tirelessly to ensure his emergence.”

The group added that its endorsement was rooted in the desire to promote credible, youth-friendly leadership capable of advancing development and inclusive governance in Abia State.

The group, therefore, urged Kalu to heed the growing call and offer himself for service, assuring that the youths of Abia State stand firmly behind him.

Former Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described reports about stepping aside from contesting in the 2027 election and retiring from active politics as false.

Our correspondent  reports that Atiku, in a statement on Monday, through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, asserted that the reports are efforts by anti-democratic elements to create confusion and dampen the momentum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Atiku further dismissed the insinuation of holding any meeting with ADC stakeholders at the national level, where the decision to step aside from active politics was made.

The former Vice President further accused the government and its agents of sponsoring the desperate narrative and urged the public to disregard the fake news.

The statement read, “We wish to state, for the record, that information circulating on social media about a purported meeting of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in which the former Vice President allegedly decided to “step aside and retire from active politics,” is entirely false and deliberately misleading.

“The Waziri Adamawa has not in recent times held any such meeting with ADC stakeholders at the national level. The only recent engagement he had was with stakeholders of the ADC in Adamawa State last Thursday.

“An issue as fundamental and consequential as exiting active politics cannot, and would never, be communicated through rumours, faceless sources, or third-party fabrication. Such a decision, if ever taken, would be formally conveyed through the Atiku Media Office.

“This latest falsehood bears all the hallmarks of a coordinated disinformation campaign designed to create confusion, dampen momentum, and mislead the Nigerian public.

“Only the government and its agents could have sponsored this desperate narrative out of fear of what is coming.

“We state without equivocation that this mischief is being driven by anti-democratic elements who are deeply unsettled by the growing national consensus to rescue Nigeria from the failures of the current administration.

“We therefore urge supporters of Atiku Abubakar, members of the ADC, and all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard this fake news in its entirety and remain focused on the collective effort to reclaim and rebuild our nation.”