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A former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims that he intends to step aside for any candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 2, his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, clarified that sections of the media had misrepresented an interview the 2023 PDP presidential candidate granted to the BBC Hausa Service.
“It is important to correct the false interpretations stemming from Atiku Abubakar’s BBC Hausa interview,” Ibe stated.
“After carefully reviewing the video and transcript in both Hausa and English, it is clear that the former vice president neither stated, hinted, nor implied that he would withdraw in favour of anyone.”
Ibe explained that Atiku had only encouraged young people and other aspiring politicians to freely contest the presidency.
He further emphasised that Atiku would wholeheartedly support a youthful candidate if they emerged through a competitive primary.
“While interpretative journalism is legitimate, twisting statements to create false narratives is unacceptable,” he added. “The claims attributed to Waziri Adamawa are inaccurate and do not reflect his actual words.”
Atiku is expected to contest the 2027 election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which opposition leaders are positioning as a united front against the ruling APC.
In July, Atiku resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing irreconcilable differences and a departure from the party’s founding principles.
Atiku, who served as vice president under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, previously contested the presidency under the PDP in 2019 and 2023 but lost to Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu, respectively.
