The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has rejected claims that he frustrated the opposition coalition, insisting that he was instrumental to its formation.

The former vice president made the clarification during an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday.

Atiku described allegations that he became an obstacle to the coalition’s progress as unfounded, saying he was the politician who initiated the alliance.

“That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else… I, Atiku Abubakar, started it,” he said.

He explained that despite disagreements among some opposition politicians, most of those who were involved in the coalition remained committed to the project.

Atiku specifically mentioned former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as prominent figures who had left the coalition.

“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku said.

Asked whether Obi was also no longer part of the group, the ADC candidate replied, “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.”

Despite the departures, Atiku maintained that the door remained open for opposition politicians to reunite ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace,” he said.

He added, “One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah.”

The former vice president also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the removal of the petrol subsidy, particularly the management of the funds saved from the policy.

Atiku said he did not oppose the decision to remove the subsidy but questioned how the resulting savings had been utilised.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” he asked.

According to him, the funds should have been channelled into programmes aimed at reducing poverty, improving education, tackling insecurity and creating economic opportunities for young Nigerians.

“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku alleged.

He further pledged that, if elected president in 2027, his administration would restore the petrol subsidy and pursue the recovery of funds allegedly misappropriated from the savings.

“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he declared.

Atiku argued that removing the subsidy did not necessarily have to result in the level of hardship currently experienced by Nigerians if the savings had been properly managed.

He said, “If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different.”

The ADC candidate maintained that the central issue was not simply the removal of the subsidy but the failure, in his view, to demonstrate clearly how the funds generated from the policy had been spent.