2027 Presidency: Atiku Dismisses Rumours of Withdrawal for Any Aspirant

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has refuted reports claiming that he intends to step aside for another presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement released on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the reports as a distortion of his recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

According to Ibe, a careful review of both the video and transcripts of the interview confirmed that Atiku neither said nor implied that he would step down for anyone.

“What Atiku Abubakar clearly stated was that young people and other aspirants are free to contest. He added that if a young candidate were to emerge through a transparent and competitive primary, he would support such a candidate,” the statement read.

Ibe further criticized what he termed “mischievous interpretations” of Atiku’s remarks, stressing that the insinuations did not reflect his actual words.

During the BBC Hausa interview, Atiku had explained that he would respect the outcome of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries. He noted that if a younger candidate defeated him at the primaries, he would willingly accept the result, support the winner, and even serve as a mentor.

“The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women. If I run for office and a young man defeats me, I will accept it,” Atiku had said.