Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has debunked media reports suggesting he plans to shelve his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 elections to support a younger aspirant.
The rebuttal comes after a Thursday, October 2, report claimed Atiku, during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, hinted at stepping aside for a “younger, vibrant and more acceptable candidate” under the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, the Waziri Adamawa described the reports as misleading and a misrepresentation of his comments.
According to Ibe, a review of the original Hausa interview and its English translation showed that Atiku “never expressly stated, suggested, or implied that he intends to step down for anyone.”
“What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said,” the statement stressed, “is that young people and other prospective aspirants are free to contest. And if a younger candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without hesitation.”
The statement further cautioned journalists against misinterpretation, emphasizing that insinuations that Atiku had abandoned his presidential ambition are inaccurate and do not reflect his actual comments.
