By Atoyebi Nike
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if a younger candidate defeats him for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket. He also said he would support and mentor such a winner.
In an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, Atiku said he could not yet confirm whether he would contest the presidency again. “This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following,” he said. “If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women.”
Addressing concerns that he might later abandon the ADC, Atiku dismissed the insinuations. “No, I’m not known for that,” he said, describing himself as “a man of one Qibla.”
Atiku also spoke on his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had infiltrated the PDP with moles. “Besides, that is one of the reasons we set up ADC,” he explained, accusing the APC-led government of undermining opposition cohesion.
He lamented that his attempts to resolve PDP crises were hindered by party leaders with personal interests. “I could have taken some firm decisions to fix the party if I were the chairman or secretary, or if someone who listened to me held those positions. Sadly, the people occupying those roles had different priorities,” he said.
On ADC’s preparation for the 2027 elections, Atiku said the party has completed its national structure and is now focusing on strengthening state and local government structures. “The national leadership is working to ensure that state and local government structures are ready for the 2027 elections,” he added.
