Atiku challenges Tinubu to a 2027 presidential debate, saying he will only join debates if the President and APC participate
Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a national presidential debate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, in Abuja on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, saying he will only participate in presidential debates if the President and the All Progressives Congress are represented.
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The position was contained in a statement issued by Atiku’s spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, who argued that debates should give Nigerians an opportunity to assess the policies, programmes and records of both the governing party and the opposition.
Atiku’s demand comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties and political figures increasingly positioning themselves for what is expected to be a closely watched contest.
Okonkwo criticised the organisation of debates involving opposition candidates without the participation of the governing party, describing such an arrangement as “untenable”.
According to the spokesperson, Atiku believes that excluding the ruling party from major presidential debates could limit voters’ ability to properly compare competing political programmes.
“The situation in Nigeria today in which presidential debates are organised among the opposition parties only is therefore untenable,” Okonkwo said.
He further accused the APC-led administration of using opposition-only debates to divert attention from scrutiny of its own record, a claim that reflects the increasingly combative tone of political exchanges ahead of the election.
Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, has said he remains willing to engage voters through other platforms, including interviews, town hall meetings and press conferences.
However, Atiku has drawn a clear line over debates that exclude Tinubu.
“Atiku Abubakar, therefore, challenges President Bola Tinubu to a national presidential debate,” the statement said, arguing that such a forum would allow both the governing party and opposition parties to present their plans directly to Nigerians.
The proposed debate would also give voters an opportunity to scrutinise the competing candidates on issues ranging from economic management and security to governance, employment and national development.
The challenge adds another significant layer to the emerging 2027 political contest. Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, is expected to seek a second term, while Atiku is positioning himself within a broader opposition movement seeking to unseat the APC.
Atiku contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party and finished second behind Tinubu, according to the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The 2027 contest is already shaping up as a major political battle, with alliances, defections and coalition-building expected to intensify as the election approaches.
For Atiku, the demand for a direct debate with Tinubu places public scrutiny and policy comparison at the centre of his campaign message.
For the APC and the President, any decision to participate would provide an opportunity to defend the administration’s record before a national audience.
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No response from Tinubu or the APC to Atiku’s latest challenge was included in Okonkwo’s statement.
