Nigeria’s political landscape may be bracing for another familiar face in the 2027 presidential race, but former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is keeping his cards close to his chest.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, the 78-year-old statesman, who flew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag in the 2023 elections, declined to confirm whether he would make yet another attempt at the nation’s top seat. His priority, he insisted, lies elsewhere—on strengthening the newly forged opposition coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“This is something for later,” Atiku remarked carefully, “what we are concentrating on now is ensuring that the new party gains wide acceptance.”
Atiku’s calculated silence comes months after his dramatic exit from the PDP, a party he helped shape since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. In July, he accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of infiltrating and manipulating the opposition. The PDP, unfazed, dismissed his departure as inconsequential.
Interestingly, while some of Atiku’s allies still straddle party lines—mirroring the controversial dual positioning of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike—Atiku has drawn a firm line. “I am not known for that,” he said firmly. “If I say this is the way, that is the way I will go.”
For a man whose political journey spans nearly four decades—marked by multiple presidential bids, a vice-presidential tenure, and the scars of party primaries—his new gamble with the ADC feels like both a reinvention and a last stand.
Yet, in a surprising twist, Atiku hinted at a willingness to concede space to a new generation. “If I contest and a young candidate defeats me, then I will accept it,” he declared. The veteran politician further stressed that youth and women would form the backbone of the ADC’s structure.
This dual stance—keeping his ambition alive while opening the door for younger aspirants—has sparked speculation: is Atiku preparing one last run, or is he finally scripting his exit by passing the torch?
Either way, the 2027 race may not just be about whether Atiku runs, but whether he can shape Nigeria’s political transition by choosing when, and how, to step aside.
