Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, vowing to “rescue Nigeria from the ICU.”
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 polls, said his political mission goes beyond personal ambition.
Over the weekend, Atiku was represented by Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Owo, at an event in Lagos where several politicians defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Olateju stated that Atiku’s vision is not just about becoming President but about building “a government that works for Nigerians.”
“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. It’s not about occupying Aso Rock at all costs, but about creating a system that truly works for the people. That’s why many of us stand with him,” Olateju explained.
However, Atiku himself later reaffirmed his determination to run in a telephone conversation with Prof. Tunde Olusunle, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity during the 2023 elections.
Atiku, who is currently 78 years old, will be 81 by the time Nigerians head to the polls in 2027. Despite multiple attempts at the presidency, he has so far been unsuccessful. He has contested for Nigeria’s top seat six times and appeared on the ballot as a presidential candidate in 2007, 2019, and 2023.
His renewed ambition positions him once again as a major contender in Nigeria’s political landscape.
