A staunch Atiku Abubakar supporter, Dele Momodu, has urged Nigerians to embrace national reconciliation, reorientation and reconstruction ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a post on X, Momodu described the expected contest between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the main battle of the 2027 polls.

He said the election “is expected to be a major fight between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his biggest challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar”.

According to him, another political force could emerge, as it did in 2023, but may not have enough strength to challenge the two leading figures.

Momodu said this reality makes it important for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to adopt a different political approach. He argued that the party should serve as a bridge between old and modern political ideas, as well as between experienced politicians and technocrats.

He also warned about rising tensions in the country, saying, “The present combustive tensions and absolute chaos cannot be allowed to continue. It will consume all of us.”

The Ovation publisher called for a return to issue-based politics and strong leadership, stating, “The time has come to retrace our steps and return to the days of robust ideas, ideologies and inspirational figures.”

He praised Nigeria’s early political leaders, including Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, saying they tried their best despite their imperfections.

Momodu further expressed concern about the current state of politics, claiming that “the politics of gangsterism has become unbearably malignant in our nation.”

He stressed the need for stronger unity between northern and southern Nigeria and concluded with a warning that urgent action is needed.

He said, “We must act before it is too late.”

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has declared that a presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, is more competent than the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Lawal said Atiku’s experience can’t be compared to Hayatu-Deen’s wealth of experience.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Lawal said Atiku and Hayatu-Deen are not on the same level.

Asked if Hayatu-Deen is more competent than Atiku, Lawal said: “Hayatu-Deen is more competent than Atiku. They can’t even be in the same boat.

“They are not on the same boat and not possibly talking of the same sea. For years, he was Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG.”

Atiku and Hayatu-Deen participated in the recent ADC’s presidential primary election aimed at deciding the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 election.

While Atiku emerged the winner after polling the highest number of votes, Hayatu-Deen came third behind former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who came second.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, says he has evidence that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, primary election was rigged.

Featuring in an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television on Monday, Lawal said he was in the field and monitored the exercise.

He said whatever the supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said was not true, adding that a thief would not accept he is a thief.

“Don’t forget I was the National Vice Chairman (Northeast). I was in the field during the exercise, so I have evidence.

“Atiku’s people are the ones lying by trying to deny what they did. We are all human beings. We know what they did.

“I knew the primary was rigged at the point it was being done and the results being declared,” he said.