Former Vice President and serial presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, has unequivocally confirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, dismissing recent claims suggesting he may no longer be interested in the nation’s highest office.
Speculation arose over the weekend after Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, who represented Atiku at a political event in Lagos, appeared to imply that Atiku’s focus was on national development rather than personal political ambition. The event coincided with the defection of several high-profile figures to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Olateju was quoted saying: “Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria; it’s not about being President. It’s about establishing a government that works for Nigerians. That’s why some of us are with him—not because he must be President at all costs.”
But speaking from his holiday residence in the United Arab Emirates, Atiku clarified the remarks were not his. “I did not issue that statement. Whenever someone represents me at an event, we usually review and align on my position beforehand. In this case, there was no such engagement. Prof. Olateju was not speaking on my behalf,” he told journalist and media scholar Dr. Tunde Olusunle.
Atiku then reaffirmed his political ambition for 2027, stressing the urgency of national recovery. “I will run in 2027. Nigeria urgently needs to be rescued from the intensive care unit in which it currently lies. The poverty, pain, deceit, and massive corruption plaguing our nation are unacceptable. I am offering myself to lead the process of national recovery and reconstruction,” he said.
Highlighting the coalition he is building under the ADC banner, Atiku emphasized that the party aims to mobilize broad-based support for what he called Nigeria’s political liberation.
“We cannot expect immediate upsets in by-elections, but ADC is building a powerful mass movement that will surprise the world. We are determined to upstage the status quo and prove the doubters wrong,” he added.
Dr. Tunde Olusunle, who spoke with Atiku, served as one of his spokespersons in the 2023 presidential election.
With Atiku’s clarification, speculation about a potential withdrawal has been firmly put to rest, signaling the former Vice President’s renewed focus on reclaiming Nigeria’s political spotlight.