Atiku Abubakar's Plan for ECOWAS and Nigeria's Security

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated his commitment to restoring Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if he wins the 2027 presidential election. In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, he criticized the isolation of these countries following military takeovers and suggested that ECOWAS should have maintained diplomatic engagement.

Atiku proposed convening ECOWAS leaders to deliberate on the situation and potentially deploy ECOMOG troops for peacekeeping. He also criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration for its handling of the military coup in Niger in 2023 and emphasized the importance of cooperation among West African nations to tackle security challenges.

Additionally, Atiku promised to reduce insecurity in Nigeria within one year by increasing security personnel and providing jobs for youth. He also addressed the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing it should have been gradual to protect vulnerable Nigerians.