The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says Nigeria needs an experienced leader such as its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to address the challenges confronting the country ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this during an interview with News Central on Tuesday while defending the ADC’s choice of Atiku and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Abdullahi was responding to questions about the ADC ticket and the previous political experience of both candidates.

He argued that previous public office should not automatically disqualify a politician from seeking office again, saying Atiku’s experience could be valuable given what he described as Nigeria’s current circumstances.

According to him, the ADC believes the country needs a leader with maturity and experience to help navigate its security and economic challenges.

“There were younger people within the African National Congress, but for a nation that had been traumatised, the party recognised that it needed someone of a father figure, someone with experience, with maturity,” Abdullahi said, referring to South Africa’s choice of Nelson Mandela after apartheid.

He said the ADC considered Atiku capable of playing a similar role because of his experience in government and understanding of Nigeria’s political history.

“For a traumatised country like Nigeria, because Nigeria has been traumatised. We’ve lost more people to terrorism, to banditry than we’ve ever lost at any other time in our history as a country,” he said.

Abdullahi also pointed to economic difficulties, arguing that Nigerians were facing worsening living conditions.

He said the ADC ticket was designed to combine Atiku’s experience with Amaechi’s energy and drive.

“You need someone with the quality of experience that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar brings. You need someone with the energy and the drive of a Rotimi Amaechi to back it up,” he said.