‘After We Ganged Up To Remove Jonathan In 2014, Nigeria’s Situation Is Worse Under APC,’ Atiku Laments.

The former presidential candidate expressed concern over worsening insecurity across the country, arguing that the issues that united opposition politicians more than a decade ago have intensified rather than improved.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lamented that Nigeria’s current political and security situation has deteriorated beyond the conditions that led opposition forces to unite and remove former President Goodluck Jonathan from power in 2015.

Atiku made the remarks on Thursday evening while addressing members of the opposition, where he reflected on the political coalition that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 general elections.

According to him, opposition leaders at the time set aside differences to challenge what they described as poor governance and rising insecurity under Jonathan’s administration, but the country has now fallen into a deeper crisis.

“You see, we did this exercise in 2014. We came together to form APC because the governance was faulty in 2014,” Atiku said.

“Only for us to end up in the same position we found ourselves in 2014, and it is even worse. Because the major challenges we faced were insecurity here and there. Now, it is even worse than what we fought in 2014.”

The former presidential candidate expressed concern over worsening insecurity across the country, arguing that the issues that united opposition politicians more than a decade ago have intensified rather than improved.

His comments come amid growing criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups over escalating violence, banditry, kidnappings, and economic hardship affecting many parts of Nigeria.

The APC emerged following the merger of several opposition parties and went on to defeat the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 presidential election, marking it the first time an incumbent president lost re-election in Nigeria’s history.

Atiku, who was a central figure in the coalition politics that reshaped Nigeria’s political landscape at the time, suggested that the expectations of Nigerians who supported the change movement have largely remained unmet.

The incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, in November 2025 also described insecurity as the most pressing challenge confronting Nigeria, particularly in the northern region 

He warned that the nation cannot achieve meaningful progress unless peace is restored.

Speaking on Saturday in Kaduna at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the launch of its Endowment Fund, Tinubu, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said rebuilding trust and safeguarding vulnerable communities must be treated as urgent national priorities.

“Nothing troubles me more gravely than the security crisis bedevilling Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria,” the president said as quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria.

“We cannot prosper when one limb of the national body is paralysed.”

Tinubu noted that his administration inherited complex security challenges but is confronting them “with urgency and determination,” adding that efforts are underway to eliminate terrorist and bandit groups operating across the North.

Beyond security, the president expressed confidence in the region’s economic future.

He pointed to ongoing oil exploration activities in Kolmani and other northern fields and highlighted major infrastructure projects, such as the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Superhighway, that are being accelerated for completion.