Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President declares readiness to mentor younger politicians, blames PDP crisis on APC infiltration
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said he would step aside from the 2027 presidential race if a younger aspirant defeats him in the race for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Atiku explained that his decision stems from the ADC’s commitment to prioritising youth and women in leadership. He stressed that he would not only accept defeat but also support and mentor any younger candidate who triumphs over him.
“If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that,” he said. “The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women. My focus is to help establish the party, build strong structures, and ensure it becomes a force ahead of 2027.”
Although Atiku did not categorically confirm whether he would once again seek Nigeria’s highest office, he said it was “too early” to make that declaration. He insisted that his immediate priority was strengthening the ADC at both the state and local government levels after its national leadership was inaugurated.
The former vice president, who will be 81 years old by the time of the 2027 general election, has made six attempts at the presidency, contesting directly in 2007, 2019, and 2023. Despite losing each time, he has remained a central figure in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Atiku also used the platform to explain why he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was the 2023 presidential candidate. He alleged that the party had been infiltrated by “moles” from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leading to persistent internal crises that made unity and effective opposition impossible.
“As the day went by, the crises in PDP were growing, and the hope of resolving it was speedily vanishing,” he said. “The government was allegedly using some senior members of the party to destabilise it further, and we could see that in their actions and utterances.”
Atiku added that if he had held a key leadership position in the PDP, he might have been able to influence decisions to steady the party. However, he claimed that those in charge were more interested in personal agendas than in rescuing the party from collapse.
“Besides, that is one of the reasons we set up ADC, which I am a member of,” he added, insisting that the new party is being positioned as a credible alternative to the APC and PDP.
Meanwhile, the ADC ticket has begun to attract attention from other prominent figures, including Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State. Both are younger than Atiku, and their interest is expected to reshape the dynamics of the race.
Atiku Abubakar, at 78, remains one of Nigeria’s longest-standing presidential aspirants, but his recent remarks suggest that 2027 could mark the end of his decades-long quest if the ADC chooses to back a younger candidate.
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