Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come out strongly against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of quietly setting the stage for electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a bold statement on Tuesday, Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, described the APC’s recent choice of a former INEC top official — who once headed the Commission’s Information Technology (IT) Department — as “a dangerous and deliberate move.”
The newly appointed APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, was not just any ordinary electoral officer, Atiku pointed out. He played a central role in managing INEC’s IT infrastructure — a critical component in Nigeria’s digital electoral process.
“This move clearly indicates that the ruling party is not interested in winning elections through due process or on the strength of their performance during their first mandate,” Atiku said.
“Instead, they are laying the groundwork to rig the upcoming election.”
Atiku also issued a rallying cry to all opposition forces, warning that disunity among pro-democracy parties would only strengthen those who want to “cling to power at all costs.”
Political analysts have noted that the appointment of someone with access to INEC’s digital backbone to head the ruling party raises serious questions about transparency, trust, and conflict of interest. With election trust already fragile, Atiku’s comments are likely to spark renewed debate about electoral reforms and digital safeguards.
For many Nigerians, this development brings an uneasy reminder of how political strategy and state structures often collide in high-stakes elections.
