Atiku Abubakar Labels Ruling APC “Party of Forgers,” Criticises Electoral Reform Path
Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing critique of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), calling it “a party of forgers and riggers” and accusing it of systematically undermining democratic institutions. His comments followed a private two-hour meeting with former military ruler General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida at Babangida’s residence in Minna, Niger State.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Atiku directly linked the APC’s character to recent government actions, including the new tax reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. “What do you expect? APC generally is a party of forgers and riggers. They forge everything, certificates, age limits, they forge everything. That is the hallmark of APC,” he stated.
He also expressed strong disappointment with the Senate’s recent emergency plenary on electoral reforms, specifically the decision to adopt a hybrid system for transmitting election results. Atiku argued this approach would create “more confusion and chaos” compared to a fully electronic system, which he said Nigerians expected. “First and foremost, it is below the expectation of Nigerians,” he said.
The former Vice President urged a united front across political parties to push for credible electoral reforms. “We must come together to pursue this issue. We shouldn’t allow it to rest where they want it to rest,” he added.
Regarding his own political future, Atiku definitively ruled out contesting the 2027 presidential election. He emphasised his current role as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stating the party is focused on nationwide mobilisation and building structural presence from the ward to national levels. He noted that, unlike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ADC’s constitution does not incorporate zoning, a formal principle for rotating power among regions.
Separately, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde held his own closed-door meeting with Gen. Babangida at the same venue but left without speaking to reporters.
The meetings with the influential former military leader underscore ongoing political manoeuvring and alliances ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election cycle. Atiku’s sharp criticism of the APC and his articulation of a reform agenda through the ADC signal a continuation of his opposition role, now formally outside the PDP with which he was long affiliated. His focus on electoral integrity and party structure highlights key issues likely to shape the country’s political discourse in the coming years.
