BY GODWIN OBI
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting he agreed to step down for any candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement on Thursday, his spokesman, Paul Ibe, said sections of the media deliberately misrepresented Atiku’s recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service.
“It has become necessary to clarify misrepresentations arising from Atiku Abubakar’s interview. After reviewing both the video and transcripts in Hausa and English, it is clear that at no point did he say, suggest, or imply that he intends to step down for anyone,” Ibe stated.
He explained that what Atiku actually said was that young people and other aspirants are free to contest, and that if a young candidate emerges through a competitive primary, he would support such a person.
“While interpretative journalism is part of reporting, stretching it into mischief is unacceptable,” Ibe added, insisting the reports do not reflect Atiku’s words.
Atiku, now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is set to run on the party’s platform, which opposition leaders have adopted as a rallying point against the ruling APC.
In July, he formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing irreconcilable differences and accusing the party of straying from its founding principles.
Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President under Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, had previously contested the presidency on the PDP’s ticket in 2019 and 2023 but lost to Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, respectively.
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