Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially dismissed widespread media reports suggesting he would step down for another presidential aspirant ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, describing them as “false and misleading”.
The clarification comes after political circles circulated interpretations of an interview Atiku granted to BBC Hausa Service, which had been understood to mean he would withdraw if a younger candidate emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Official Clarification
In a statement released on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku’s team conducted a thorough review of both the video and transcripts of the BBC Hausa interview in both the original Hausa and English translation. The review concluded that “at no point did the former Vice President expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone”.
The statement elaborated that Atiku had actually emphasized that young people and other prospective presidential aspirants are free to enter the contest, and that he would readily support a younger candidate who emerged through a competitive primary process.
Original Interview Context
The confusion stemmed from Atiku’s recent comments where he discussed the possibility of younger leadership within the ADC, the new political party he recently joined after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In that interview, Atiku had stated: “If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women”. This statement was widely interpreted as him being willing to voluntarily step aside for a younger candidate, leading to the need for clarification.
Political Background and Response
Atiku’s media team addressed what they termed “mischievous interpretations” by some media outlets, noting that while interpretative journalism is legitimate, “stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged”.
This clarification comes at a significant time in Nigerian opposition politics, with Atiku having recently departed the PDP, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had “infiltrated the PDP with moles” and was using some party leaders to “frustrate efforts of having a strong opposition”.
Moving Forward
With the record now set straight, Atiku remains a active figure in the evolving opposition landscape. The ADC, which he recently joined, has established its national structure and is currently focusing on building state and local government levels in preparation for the 2027 elections.
The former Vice President, who served from 1999 to 2007, has contested the presidency multiple times and continues to be a prominent voice in Nigeria’s political opposition, though he has not yet confirmed whether he will run again in 2027.