Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has announced his readiness to step down from the 2027 presidential race if a younger and widely acceptable candidate emerges under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Atiku disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary.
He emphasized that his ambition is not driven by personal interest but by the desire to provide a credible alternative capable of rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges.
“My being in the 2027 race does not prevent anyone from contesting. If a vibrant and widely accepted younger candidate emerges, I am willing to step aside,” Atiku stated.
The former presidential candidate further explained his decision to align with the ADC, attributing it to internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and what he described as government interference.
According to him, efforts to build a united opposition under the PDP were frustrated by some leaders allegedly influenced by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku lamented that the PDP leadership failed to take decisive steps to resolve its lingering crisis, stressing that the situation forced him to seek a new platform.
On strengthening the ADC, he disclosed that the party has put its national leadership in place and is working to build strong state and local government structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 65 years of independence, Atiku acknowledged some progress but insisted that the nation has yet to attain the vision of its founding fathers.
“Nigeria has experienced changes, but they are not the kind of progress our founding fathers envisioned. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” he said.
Credit: PoliticsNigeria except headline
