The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has launched a fresh attack on President Bola Tinubu over his declaration that he was ready to “wrestle” political opponents ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing the President of focusing on politics instead of governance.
Atiku’s response followed President Tinubu’s remarks during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), where the President declared that he would “wrestle” his political opponents “to the finishing point” in the 2027 election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said Tinubu should channel the same energy into addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges rather than engaging the opposition.
“Mr President, you are a drowning man. Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents,” Atiku said.
The ADC presidential candidate argued that the President’s comments were ill-timed, noting that they came in response to the Catholic bishops’ appeal for credible, transparent and peaceful elections in 2027.
According to him, Nigerians expected assurances on electoral integrity and national unity rather than what he described as political bravado.
Atiku maintained that Tinubu’s greatest political challenge was the performance of his administration, citing rising inflation, insecurity, unemployment and the high cost of living.
“The president should wrestle with the millions of Nigerians who now skip meals because food has become a luxury. He should wrestle with the insecurity that has turned farming communities into graveyards and highways into hunting grounds for criminals.
He should wrestle with unemployment and an economy suffocating under policy inconsistency and dwindling investor confidence,” he stated.
The former Vice President also dismissed what he described as attempts by the Presidency to divert attention from governance through political rhetoric.
“These are the words of a drowning man. Nigerians are no longer interested in political performances. They are interested in performance in government. Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs, and threats against political opponents cannot restore the value of the naira,” he said.
Atiku further argued that elections are won through good governance and public trust, not confrontational language.
“Democracy is a marketplace of ideas and accountability. Governments earn another term through competence, compassion and measurable results not through combative rhetoric. In 2027, Nigerians will not be stepping into a wrestling arena; they will be stepping into polling units to deliver their verdict,” he added.
The latest exchange underscores the intensifying political rivalry ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures stepping up criticism of the Tinubu administration while the Presidency continues to defend its economic reforms and governance agenda.
