African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has intensified his 2027 campaign in Ondo State, calling on voters to back what he described as a change of government while formally receiving former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, and his supporters into the ADC.
Speaking in Akure, Atiku accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of worsening economic hardship and insecurity and said the ADC would present itself as an alternative in the 2027 general election.
He told supporters that an ADC government would seek to restore petrol subsidy and place security at the centre of its programme. Atiku also invoked the economic record of the administration in which he served as vice president between 1999 and 2007, arguing that Nigeria had lost ground over successive years.
The former vice president urged supporters to focus on voter turnout, grassroots mobilization and protection of ballots, citing the August 2026 Osun governorship election as an example of the importance of sustained participation.
He said Jegede’s defection would strengthen the party’s organization in Ondo and urged members to convert public dissatisfaction into votes.
ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, representing National Chairman David Mark, also urged supporters to campaign from house to house and said the party would focus on reducing the cost of living.
Jegede said his decision to leave the PDP was driven by a desire to support what he described as a viable democratic alternative. He cited unemployment, hardship and the rising cost of living as major concerns and said the ADC would work to unify its structures ahead of the elections. The political claims and campaign promises made at the event remain positions of the candidates and party leaders ahead of the 2027 contest
