By Jelili Gbadamosi
Demola Olarewaju, Senior Political Assistant to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has warned that the opposition’s momentum could collapse if the former vice president withdraws from the 2027 presidential race.
Olarewaju made the assertion in a post on X on Tuesday, where he argued that Atiku remains the opposition candidate with the capacity to compete effectively with President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
He said Atiku’s continued participation in the race was important not only for the forthcoming election but also for building a strong opposition movement beyond 2027.
According to him, Atiku serves as a bridge for consolidating the opposition, describing the former vice president as the candidate currently demonstrating the capacity to match Tinubu both locally and internationally.
Olarewaju noted that the 2027 presidential election would have different dynamics from the 2023 contest because an incumbent president would be seeking re-election.
He urged political actors to prepare for the unique circumstances surrounding the 2027 election rather than relying on the experience of previous polls.
The ADC aide also claimed that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s level of involvement in Tinubu’s 2023 campaign contributed to some of the APC’s setbacks during the election.
He cited the party’s defeat in Lagos and alleged irregularities in some states as examples of factors that, according to him, affected the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
