Atiku Accuses APC of Laying Groundwork to Rig 2027 Elections

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has raised alarm over what he describes as a premeditated plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the 2027 general elections.

In a strongly worded statement on Monday, Atiku condemned the recent appointment of Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as the new National Chairman of the APC. Yilwatda previously served as the Director of the Information Technology Department at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and is currently the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

“This isn’t just any ordinary former electoral official,” Atiku stated. “This is someone who held a strategic and sensitive role overseeing INEC’s IT infrastructure — the backbone of our electoral process.”

Calling the appointment “deeply troubling,” the former vice president argued that it represents a clear move by the APC to undermine future elections. He alleged that the ruling party is preparing to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 polls rather than relying on democratic principles or performance-based credibility.

Atiku urged all opposition parties to set aside their differences and form a united front, emphasizing that continued fragmentation among opposition blocs only empowers the APC to act with impunity.

“This isn’t about partisan politics anymore — it’s about defending democracy itself,” he warned.

The statement has sparked debate across Nigeria’s political landscape, with supporters and critics weighing in on the implications of placing a former INEC insider at the helm of the ruling party.