Why 2027 Presidency Won’t Be Decided by Atiku or El-Rufai – ADP Chair, Yabagi
…Says Tinubu’s incumbency factor is key
By Nasir Dambatta
Action Democratic Party (ADP) National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, has thrown cold water on speculations around Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai shaping Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race, insisting the real battle lies far beyond individual ambition.
Speaking on Channels Television, Sani bluntly stated that neither political clout, wealth, nor popularity will crown the next president. Instead, Nigeria’s leadership, he said, partly remains hostage to raw factors like ethnicity, religion, regional interests, and mainly the sheer force of incumbency.
“Atiku can run or not run — it won’t matter,” Sani said.
“In Nigeria, it’s not about networks, riches, or accolades. It’s about where you come from, your faith, and whether you have the machinery to bend institutions to your will.”
He warned that deep-seated “primordial sentiments,” not merit or national interest, will once again steer the outcome in 2027 — rendering even political giants like Atiku and El-Rufai pawns in a much bigger, older game.
