Shehu Sani: ‘Beating Atiku in Party Primaries Harder Than a Camel Passing Through a Needle’

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has weighed in on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent remarks about the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said he would step aside and back a younger aspirant if he were defeated in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries. The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate also pledged to support and mentor any emerging youth flagbearer, stressing that his new party prioritises young people and women.

“If I run for office and a young man defeats me, I will accept it. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women,” Atiku said, though he stopped short of confirming whether he would run again.

Reacting on Thursday via his X handle, Sani argued that unseating Atiku in a primary contest would be nearly impossible. He wrote:
“His Excellency the Waziri reportedly said he would step aside if a younger candidate wins the primaries… The keyword here is primaries. It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to defeat the Waziri in primaries. Party delegates are a special breed of people.”