Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has declared that he is ready to step aside from the Atiku 2027 presidential race if a younger and more vibrant candidate emerges under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Atiku revealed this during an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, October 1, stressing that his ambition was not personal but centered on rescuing Nigeria from what he described as poor leadership.
“I could withdraw from the race if there is a younger, more vibrant and acceptable candidate.
My interest is not about personal ambition, but about providing a credible alternative to rescue Nigerians,” Atiku said.
The statement has caught many political observers by surprise, as Atiku has long been seen as one of the most consistent presidential aspirants in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
However, he clarified that his main concern is the future of the country and the strength of the opposition.
Moreover, Atiku urged younger Nigerians to play an active role in politics.
He promised to fully support any youth who emerges as the consensus candidate, stressing that leadership renewal is vital for the country’s progress.
He also dismissed speculations that he is desperate for the presidency.
“I am only interested in rescuing Nigeria from the people that have held it hostage,” he maintained.
Atiku further explained why he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ADC.
According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) deliberately weakened the PDP by allegedly using senior members to create division.
“Besides, that is one of the reasons we set up ADC, which I am a member of.
We couldn’t achieve that with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the APC government in power has decided to use some leaders of the party to frustrate efforts of having a strong opposition,” he said.
Furthermore, he blamed PDP leadership failures for the deepening crises within the party.
He explained: “I could have taken some firm decisions to fix the party if I was the chairman or secretary of the party or someone that listens to me was the chairman or secretary. Sadly, the people occupying those positions have different interests that are mostly personal to them.”
