Atiku’s ex-aide emerges ADP presidential candidate

Aliyu Bin Abbas, a former political aide to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has emerged as the presidential candidate for the Action Democratic Party (ADP) ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general election. Abbas, who also founded the National Youth Alliance, secured the party's ticket at its National Convention held in Abuja.

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For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify the distinct trajectory of this candidacy, Aliyu Bin Abbas steps into this race on his own merits and under a completely independent platform.

His emergence occurs amidst significant political realignments as various opposition parties and movements seek to leverage public dissatisfaction with the country's economic struggles, security issues, and governance challenges. The ADP convention results were announced early Saturday, leading to celebrations among delegates and supporters.

Abbas's campaign team has emphasized that his presidential bid is independent and not linked to any existing political blocs or his former principal, Atiku Abubakar, who is also running for president under the African Democratic Congress. His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Okpani Dickson, stated that Abbas is running "on his own merits and under a completely independent platform," noting that his professional relationship with Atiku ended over two years ago due to "widely recognised political divergence."

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It stands fully divorced from the influence of old political blocs, serving neither as a proxy movement nor a strategic alignment with past principals, but as a direct response to the yearning of millions of Nigerian youths seeking fresh, uncompromised leadership.

"For the avoidance of doubt and to clarify the distinct trajectory of this candidacy, Aliyu Bin Abbas steps into this race on his own merits and under a completely independent platform," Dickson said. He added that Abbas "stands fully divorced from the influence of old political blocs, serving neither as a proxy movement nor a strategic alignment with past principals, but as a direct response to the yearning of millions of Nigerian youths seeking fresh, uncompromised leadership."

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This milestone represents more than a political victory; it signifies the emergence of a new generation of leadership committed to national renewal, inclusive governance, economic transformation, and the empowerment of Nigerian youths.

Upon securing the ticket, Abbas declared his emergence as the start of a new political movement dedicated to national renewal and youth engagement. He described the milestone as a symbol of a "new generation of leadership committed to national renewal, inclusive governance, economic transformation, and the empowerment of Nigerian youths." He called for national unity behind a vision of progress, justice, and prosperity, aiming to build a country that "works for all."

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As Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its history, this development signals the beginning of a movement driven by hope, patriotism, and a collective determination to build a nation that works for all.