The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused those currently in power of taking control of Nigeria’s political and economic resources, describing the people his party will face in the election as “thieves.”
Atiku made the accusation in a video shared on his X handle on Wednesday, where he spoke about the political contest ahead of the 2027 general election and his concerns about the state of the Nigerian economy.
The former Vice President said the ADC would be competing against people he accused of stealing the election and subsequently taking away the country’s economic resources.
“We are competing with thieves. They stole the election. Now they have stolen the economy. They have stolen everything,” Atiku tweeted alongside the video.
His statement comes as political parties and their candidates begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the economy and the welfare of Nigerians expected to remain major issues in the campaign.
Atiku also used the opportunity to restate his position on fuel subsidy, saying he would return the subsidy if elected president.
The ADC candidate argued that the removal of the subsidy had contributed to increasing poverty among Nigerians.
According to him, government has a responsibility to protect the welfare of citizens, particularly when economic policies create difficulties for households.
Atiku’s position places the fuel subsidy issue at the centre of his economic message as he prepares for the 2027 contest.
He said the government should take measures that provide relief to Nigerians instead of allowing the effects of rising costs to continue placing pressure on households.
The former Vice President maintained that Nigeria has enough resources to provide support for its citizens.
He argued that the country is sufficiently endowed to provide relief for Nigerians and improve their living conditions.
For Atiku, the issue is therefore not simply whether Nigeria has resources, but whether those resources are being used in a way that benefits the people.
He also pledged to improve both economic and physical security if elected president.
The ADC presidential candidate linked the country’s economic situation with the welfare and security of citizens, saying his administration would seek to address both areas.
His comments also focused on the effect of rising fuel prices on everyday life.
Atiku said higher fuel prices had contributed to increased transportation and food costs, thereby putting additional pressure on Nigerian households.
The increase in transport costs, according to him, has broader consequences because the movement of people and goods is affected by the cost of fuel.
He also pointed to the connection between fuel prices and food costs, stressing the effect of rising expenses on families.
The ADC candidate said his approach would include supporting local production as part of efforts to strengthen the economy.
He also promised to create support for businesses and help them grow.
According to Atiku, stronger local production and a better environment for businesses would form part of his approach to addressing economic difficulties.
He further said wages should become more valuable to Nigerians.
His position is that workers should be able to derive greater value from their earnings instead of seeing the purchasing power of their income reduced by rising costs.
The issue of wages has become an important part of the economic discussion, particularly as households face increasing expenses for transportation and food.
Atiku’s comments therefore bring together several areas of his proposed economic approach: fuel subsidy, household welfare, local production, business growth and the purchasing power of wages.
The former Vice President also placed emphasis on the responsibility of government to protect citizens.
He argued that economic policies should take the welfare of Nigerians into account and that government should provide relief where people are facing hardship.
His criticism of the current economic situation was directly connected to his call for a different approach if the ADC wins the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku’s statement also reflected his broader criticism of those currently controlling political power.
By describing his opponents as “thieves,” he accused them of not only taking the election but also damaging the economy.
He repeated the allegation in his message by saying they had “stolen everything.”
The accusation is part of Atiku’s political argument ahead of the 2027 election and represents his assessment of the current political and economic situation.
The former Vice President did not present the statement as a neutral assessment but as a direct political criticism of those he says the ADC will be competing against.
His comments also reinforced his commitment to contesting the 2027 presidential election under the ADC platform.
With the election approaching, Atiku is presenting economic hardship and the welfare of Nigerians as key areas on which voters should judge political leadership.
Fuel prices remain particularly important to his argument because of their effect on transportation and food costs.
Atiku’s pledge to return the subsidy is therefore closely connected to his claim that government should protect Nigerians from excessive economic pressure.
He maintained that the country has sufficient wealth to provide relief for its citizens.
Atiku also said his administration would focus on physical security alongside economic security.
The promise forms part of his wider position that the welfare of Nigerians involves both their ability to meet their economic needs and their safety.
The ADC candidate further stressed the importance of supporting businesses and encouraging local production.
His argument is that businesses should be helped to grow while Nigerians should receive wages that retain more value.
Taken together, Atiku’s latest comments present an economic message focused on reducing pressure on households while strengthening domestic economic activity.
He is promising to support local production, assist businesses and improve the purchasing power of workers.
At the same time, he is maintaining that the government should intervene to protect citizens from the effects of high fuel prices and the wider rise in living costs.
The former Vice President’s comments come as the 2027 political contest continues to take shape.
For Atiku, the election is not only about who will occupy the presidency but also about the direction Nigeria’s economy should take.
His latest statement makes fuel subsidy and economic welfare central to the argument he is putting before Nigerians.
He believes subsidy removal has increased poverty and placed additional pressure on citizens, while rising fuel prices have contributed to higher transportation and food costs.
His proposed response is to restore fuel subsidy, support local production, help businesses grow and improve the value of wages.
He has also promised stronger economic and physical security.
Atiku’s remarks therefore give a clear indication of the issues he intends to emphasise as the 2027 election approaches.
His criticism of those in power, his position on fuel subsidy and his promises on the economy are likely to remain central to his political message.
For now, the ADC candidate is presenting himself as an alternative to the current approach, arguing that Nigeria’s resources should be used to provide greater relief for citizens and improve their welfare.
His Wednesday statement adds to the growing political debate over how Nigeria should address economic pressure and what policies should guide the country after the 2027 election.
2027: We’re Competing Against Thieves, Atiku Says
