Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again stirred Nigeria’s political waters after being spotted with a branded campaign vehicle, signaling fresh moves towards the 2027 presidential race.
The vehicle, captured in a viral video on Thursday, bore Atiku’s portrait and the logo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In the clip, Atiku is seen taking photographs with supporters in front of the branded bus before making his way into an apartment alongside aides and loyalists.
Though Atiku has yet to officially declare his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ADC, the development has sparked intense speculation about his political future and the direction of his presidential ambition.
A brewing storm within ADC
Atiku’s apparent interest in the ADC ticket is already complicating ongoing negotiations within the party, which has been grappling with regional power-sharing demands and the ambitions of other heavyweights.
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, are also reportedly eyeing the ADC’s presidential ticket.
Obi, who ran under the Labour Party in 2023 and gained nationwide momentum, has promised “competent, capable, and compassionate leadership” if given the mandate. He has also hinted at serving only a single four-year term as part of a rotational arrangement that could return power to the north thereafter.
Amaechi, who lost the 2022 APC presidential primary to President Bola Tinubu, is equally reviving his political aspirations and views the ADC as a possible comeback platform.
Atiku’s long-standing ambition
For Atiku, however, zoning remains a contentious issue. The Adamawa-born politician has been a consistent contender for Nigeria’s top seat since 1993. Political observers believe he is unlikely to back down from another shot at the presidency, especially after his unsuccessful bid under the PDP in 2023.
His determination could deepen rifts within the ADC, potentially igniting a power struggle over zoning and succession agreements.
What next?
While the viral campaign vehicle may not yet amount to an official declaration, it has undoubtedly thrown Atiku back into the center of Nigeria’s political conversation.
As one Abuja-based analyst put it:
“Every election cycle, Atiku finds a way back into the race. The question is whether he can rally enough support within a smaller coalition party like the ADC, and whether the South, especially Obi and Amaechi’s camps, will allow him to dominate the conversation.”
For now, Nigerians will be watching closely as Atiku’s next political moves unfold, knowing that the race for 2027 has unofficially begun.
