Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, has hinted that his long-standing desire to rule Nigeria may come to an end in the 2027 presidential election due to his advanced age and what he called the increased stakes of the race.
He revealed this during a live interview on Arise Television on Wednesday. Atiku was the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in both the 2019 and 2023 elections.
He revealed this while answering a question about whether his desire would change if he turned 80 by the next election.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher and I believe that will be my last outing,” he said, signalling what could be the closing chapter of a decades-long pursuit of the presidency.
Recall that for decades, Atiku has shown interest in running for president of Nigeria.
The former vice president also discussed the possibility of a contested primary within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he is thought to be positioning himself in the midst of ongoing opposition realignments.
Atiku responded that he would respect the results of a legitimate process when asked if he would be prepared to withdraw if another candidate, such as previous Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, secured the party’s ticket.
“Yes, I will step aside for any winner,” he said. When pressed specifically on Mr Obi, who was his running mate in the 2019 election.”
“Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”
Atiku further dismissed suggestions that such a decision could be politically difficult.
He also emphasised democratic principles, noting that leadership must emerge through either consensus or a transparent electoral process.
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