The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has again called on the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop its obsession with its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, urging the ruling party to address the country’s worsening poverty, insecurity and cost-of-living .

In a statement signed by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party cautioned the ruling party against shifting attention from the economy, security, and well being of Nigerians.

The statement reads in part: “This has become a familiar pattern. Whenever respected Nigerians point to the deepening poverty, worsening insecurity, rising cost of living, or the collapse of public confidence under this administration, the APC never answers for its record. Instead, it looks for someone to attack. Yesterday, it was the Catholic Bishops. Today, it is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Tomorrow, it will be someone else.

“While President Obasanjo was in office, with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar serving as Vice President and Chairman of the National Economic Council, who also managed and coordinated economic planning between the States and the Federal Government, Nigeria experienced stronger economic growth, greater macroeconomic stability, stronger investor confidence, and an affordable cost of living.

“Why is your government spending 69% of its revenue just to service debts (whereas the World Bank describes any debt service-to revenue above 22.5% as dangerously high). Can the APC explain why communities across the country continue to live under the constant threat of bandits, terrorists and kidnappers while hundreds are still held in kidnappers’ den?

“These are the questions Nigerians expect the APC government to answer as we prepare for elections. But, the APC wants the 2027 election to be about personalities.They want this election to be about Obasanjo’s personal opinion of Atiku based on a distant past.

“Ultimately, the election will not be decided by the opinion of any one individual. It will be decided by the lived experience of more than 200 million Nigerians,” the statement added.