Atiku Rejects Claim Of Dumping His Presidential Ambition, Vows To Contest In 2027

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims suggesting he has no interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election.

The controversy began on Saturday when Professor Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Ondo, said Atiku was not desperate to become president.

Olateju represented Atiku at an event in Lagos where defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) were received into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He told the gathering that Atiku’s priority was building a better Nigeria rather than pursuing power for himself.

“Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. It’s not about him being president. It’s about having a good government that can deliver for Nigerians.

“It’s not a personal thing for him, and that’s why some of us are with him. It’s not about Atiku having to be president at all costs,” he said.

But the statement did not sit well with Atiku who rejected the claim that he was not keen to contest the Nigerian presidency in the 2027 general election.

Speaking from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a phone conversation with Tunde Olusunle, his former media aide, the ex-vice president made it clear that Olateju did not speak for him.

He said, “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.

“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 stressed confidence in the ADC coalition, of which he is a member, predicting it would play a decisive role in the 2027 polls.

“ADC is leading a potent mass movement which will shock the world. We will upstage the status quo in a way which will leave doubters dumbstruck,” he said.

He also asserted that the ADC coalition will galvanise popular support for the liberation of Nigeria and victory in 2027.

Atiku also dismissed report that the poor performance of ADC in recent bye-elections is a reflection of the strength of the party.

Abubakar has run for presidency six times, but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.

KanyiDaily recalls that FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike recently took a swipe at Atiku Abubakar for constantly jumping from one political party to another.