Yola, Nigeria – August 29, 2025 – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for sweeping electoral and judicial reforms to restore credibility to Nigeria’s democratic process. He made the call in a statement on Thursday, warning that the current system undermines public trust and shifts power from voters to judges.
Atiku, now a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said reforms are necessary to protect voter integrity, promote judicial independence, and restore legitimacy to the ballot.
Atiku Warns of Declining Voter Turnout, Cites 2023 Figures
“Of the 93.47 million registered voters in 2023, only 24.9 million voted — a mere 26.72% turnout, the lowest since 1999,” Atiku stated.
He argued that unless reforms are enacted, citizen participation will continue to dwindle, eroding the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.
Proposed Reforms: BVAS, iREV, and Electoral Act Amendments
Atiku proposed nine key reforms to restore electoral transparency:
- Mandatory BVAS use for accreditation and electronic result upload
- No discretion for INEC on manual accreditation or result transmission
- Collation at all levels (ward, LGA, state, national) must rely solely on iREV-uploaded results
- Ban on manual collation or transmission at any point in the process
- INEC leadership should be chosen through democratic voting by the public
- INEC must prove compliance, not the petitioner, in election disputes
He cited Prof. Chidi Odinkalu’s book “The Selectorate”, noting how judges now “topple the people” and influence leadership outcomes outside of elections.
“The power to choose leaders must return to the people — not a conclave of elite interests,” Atiku emphasized.
Political Shift: Atiku Donates Yola Property to ADC
In a major political gesture, Atiku donated one of his personal properties in Yola to serve as the Adamawa State Secretariat of the ADC. The building, formerly used as the PDP’s state office, is located near the famous Mubi Roundabout in Jimeta.
According to Umaru Jada, ADC’s Zonal Organising Secretary, the building “offers a befitting workspace” and symbolizes Atiku’s growing commitment to the party.
Atiku’s Exit from PDP Reshaping Adamawa Politics
Atiku’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last month triggered a wave of high-profile defections to the ADC, including:
- Senator Aishatu Ahmed (Binani) – 2023 APC gubernatorial candidate
- Senator Jibrilla Bindow – Former APC Governor (2015–2019)
The moves are part of Atiku’s strategy to build ADC into a dominant political force in Adamawa State and possibly beyond.
ADC Gains Momentum as Atiku Pushes Reform Agenda
With a fresh base in the ADC, Atiku appears poised to influence national electoral reform discussions and reshape political dynamics ahead of 2027 general elections.
He concluded his statement by reaffirming the importance of aligning technology, law, and political will to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.
