Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting he may not contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting he remains committed to the race and to rescuing Nigeria from what he described as its current state of decline.
Contrary to earlier claims attributed to a representative at a political event in Lagos, Atiku reaffirmed his intention to run, saying his aspiration is anchored on rebuilding the nation rather than personal ambition.
Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, who represented the former vice president at the defection of some political figures to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the weekend, was quoted as saying Atiku’s mission was not to become president at all costs.
“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. It’s not about being President; it’s about establishing a government that works for Nigerians – that’s why some of us are with him,” Olateju reportedly said.
However, Atiku, in a telephone conversation with his former campaign Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Prof. Tunde Olusunle, dismissed the remarks, saying they did not reflect his position.
“I did not issue that statement. When people stand in for me at events, we preview my thoughts on the instant subject and what my contribution or intervention will be, so we are on the same page,” he said.
“In this particular instance, there was no engagement with me to distil my thoughts. Prof Olateju was not speaking for me.
“I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned [to]. The degeneration in our country, the level of poverty and pain, the anguish, is unacceptable.
“The accompanying deceit, the loss of values, the mega-scale, unimpeded thievery, the absolute lack of accountability, must disturb every concerned patriot. I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland.”
Atiku also defended the coalition being built around the ADC, dismissing concerns over its performance in recent bye-elections. He argued that a platform adopted only a few months ago could not be expected to deliver immediate upsets.
“ADC is leading a potent mass movement that will shock the world. We will upstage the status quo in a way that will leave doubters dumbstruck,” he said.
Abubakar, who is 78-years-old, was the standard-bearer of the PDP in the 2023 election.
The politician will be 81 by the time the next presidential election comes around in 2027.
Abubakar has run for the number one office six times, but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.
