By Amah
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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has firmly denied reports claiming he plans to step aside from the 2027 presidential race or retire from active politics, describing the claims as false, misleading, and politically motivated.
In a statement issued Monday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku rejected insinuations that he held a meeting with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) where such a decision was allegedly reached. He clarified that his only recent engagement with the party was at the state level in Adamawa and not at any national gathering where discussions about his political future took place.
The former presidential candidate further alleged that the reports are part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at creating confusion, weakening political momentum, and misleading Nigerians. According to him, such a significant decision as retiring from politics could never be communicated through rumours or unnamed sources but would come directly from his official media channels.
Atiku also accused unnamed elements within the government of sponsoring the narrative, suggesting it stems from fear of a growing opposition movement. He maintained that the claims bear “all the hallmarks of a deliberate attempt” to destabilise efforts geared toward building a viable alternative ahead of the next general election.
He urged his supporters, members of the ADC, and the wider public to disregard the reports entirely and remain focused on what he described as a collective mission to “rescue and rebuild Nigeria.”
Atiku Abubakar, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007, has been a serial contender in the country’s presidential elections, emerging as one of the most prominent opposition figures in modern Nigerian politics. Over the years, he has contested multiple times under different political platforms, most recently under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Following the 2023 general election, Nigeria’s opposition landscape has witnessed shifting alliances and strategic recalibrations, with parties like the African Democratic Congress gaining renewed attention as potential coalition platforms.
Speculation about Atiku’s political future has intensified in recent months amid ongoing realignments, generational debates within opposition ranks, and calls in some quarters for fresh faces ahead of 2027. However, his latest statement signals a clear intent to remain politically active and relevant in shaping the opposition’s direction.
As the countdown to 2027 gradually begins, the unfolding narratives around key political figures like Atiku underscore the high-stakes contest already taking shape in Nigeria’s evolving political arena.
