Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said he is willing to step aside for a younger aspirant if he loses the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku made this known in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, where he emphasized that his immediate focus is on building the ADC into a strong political force capable of uniting the opposition.
“It’s Too Early to Decide”
Responding to questions on whether he will contest in 2027, Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, said it was too early to make such a declaration.
“This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following,” he said.
According to him, if he eventually runs and a younger candidate defeats him in the primaries, he would accept the outcome in good faith.
“If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that,” Atiku stated. “The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women.”
No “Double-Dealing” Between Parties
Atiku also dismissed speculations that he might still have one foot in the PDP while testing the waters with the ADC. He maintained that his decision to leave the PDP was final and driven by principle.
“No, I’m not known for that. If I say I am going one way, I will go that way,” he stressed.
Exit From PDP
Atiku, 78, formally resigned from the PDP in July 2025, citing irreconcilable differences and a departure from the party’s founding ideals.
In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the PDP in Jada 1 Ward, Adamawa State, Atiku announced the immediate termination of his membership.
“I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for,” he wrote.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.”
Unifying the Opposition
Since joining the ADC, Atiku has pitched himself as a unifier within Nigeria’s fragmented opposition. Political analysts note that his presence in the party could reshape its influence ahead of 2027, given his name recognition and experience in previous elections.
Atiku has contested Nigeria’s presidency six times and remains one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures. His declaration that he is open to stepping aside for a younger aspirant is being interpreted as both a strategic move to appeal to younger voters and an acknowledgment of the growing clamour for generational change in Nigerian politics.
For now, Atiku insists that his energy is directed toward strengthening the ADC’s grassroots structures, mobilising supporters, and ensuring the party becomes a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Background
Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s Vice-President from 1999 to 2007, has long been a major player in the nation’s political landscape. His most recent outing as the PDP’s flag bearer in the 2023 election saw him lose to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC.
Despite setbacks, he has remained a central figure in opposition politics. His move to the ADC, observers say, is a recalibration aimed at consolidating opposition forces ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 election.