Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has announced that he is ready to drop his 2027 presidential ambition if his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), presents a younger, vibrant, and widely acceptable candidate for the election.
Atiku made the disclosure in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations. He explained that his decision to run should not discourage young Nigerians from aspiring to the nation’s highest office, stressing that he would provide full support and guidance to any credible youth candidate willing to contest.
“If the ADC can present a young, vibrant, and acceptable candidate for the 2027 election, I am willing to step down for such an individual,” Atiku said.
The former PDP presidential flagbearer denied claims that he is desperate for the presidency, insisting that his motivation is to “rescue Nigeria from those who have held the country hostage.”
Atiku further explained that the ADC was established to provide a strong opposition platform, lamenting that internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had frustrated similar efforts. He alleged that some senior PDP members were being used by the APC-led government to weaken the opposition.
“I could have taken firm decisions to fix the party if I were the Chairman or Secretary, or if someone who listened to me held those positions. Unfortunately, those in charge pursued personal interests instead,” he added.
Speaking on the ADC’s preparations, Atiku said the party has already formed its national leadership and is working to strengthen its state and local government structures ahead of the 2027 polls.
Atiku’s Hollow Promise on 2027: Nigerians Are No Longer Deceived
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent claim that he would step aside from the 2027 presidential race if a younger candidate emerges must be taken with extreme caution. History shows that Atiku has been a serial presidential aspirant for over three decades, contesting in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023—often switching platforms but never relenting in his ambition. This pattern clearly demonstrates determination to remain in the race, regardless of circumstances.
Atiku’s assertion appears less like a genuine act of statesmanship and more like an attempt to rebrand himself from a desperate aspirant into a liberal-minded elder willing to make sacrifices. However, Nigerians have grown politically wiser. The public understands that Atiku’s political history contradicts his latest rhetoric. His persistence in seeking the presidency, even in the face of repeated losses, signals a deep personal ambition, not a willingness to step aside for youth inclusion.
With Nigeria’s demographics skewing young—over 70% of the population under 35—the real test will be whether Atiku’s party produces a credible youthful alternative. Nigerians will wait and see, but few believe he will honor such a promise. As things stand, the public has moved on, and Atiku’s words ring hollow.
Democrats United.
