Atiku Abubaka, former Nigerian vice President says he may step aside from Presidential race in 2027, if a credible youth candidate emerges under the ADC.
Nigerian former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar says he is prepared to give up his presidential ambition in 2027 if a younger and widely accepted candidate steps forward.
The 77-year-old politician, who has run unsuccessfully for the presidency several times, told the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday that his motivation is not personal ambition but the need to offer Nigerians a credible alternative in the next election. His remarks came as the country marked its 65th Independence anniversary.
Atiku, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics for more than three decades, urged young people to get involved in national leadership. He pledged to support any youth candidate capable of uniting the electorate and challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“My being in the 2027 race does not prevent anyone from contesting,” Atiku said. “If a vibrant and widely accepted younger candidate emerges, I am willing to step aside.”
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The former vice president also shed light on his recent shift to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a smaller opposition party. He blamed deep internal rifts within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — where he had long been a leading member — and what he described as government-backed interference for his decision.
“We couldn’t achieve our objectives in the PDP because some leaders were being influenced by the APC to frustrate the opposition,” he alleged. “The crisis kept growing, and hopes of resolving it kept fading.”
Atiku argued that had he held a more decisive role within PDP leadership, he would have pursued stronger reforms to address the divisions. Instead, he accused some party leaders of prioritizing personal gain over unity.
Looking ahead, Atiku said the ADC has established a national leadership framework and is now focused on building state and grassroots structures to contest seriously in 2027. “Our plan is to ensure the ADC has solid structures at every level, so we can be fully prepared,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political journey since independence in 1960, Atiku acknowledged progress but said the nation remains far from fulfilling the vision of its founding leaders. “There’s still a lot of work to be done,” he said.
His comments came at a time when calls for generational change in African politics are growing louder, with younger voters across the continent pushing for fresh leadership to tackle corruption, unemployment, and insecurity.
