Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar affirmed that the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress will emerge through the consensus option.
He further declared that the 2027 presidential race will mark the conclusion of his political career, making it clear that he does not intend to run for any office after the next election cycle.
Atiku also disclosed his willingness to support the individual who wins the African Democratic Congress presidential primaries scheduled for later this year.
In an interview on ARISE TV on Wednesday, the former vice president said, “The first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t work out, then we will go for primary elections. But I will support anybody who emerges.”
The ex-vice president stressed his willingness to step aside if another candidate emerges through a consensus or electoral process within the coalition.
“I will step aside for any winner,” he stated, adding when asked specifically about Peter Obi, “Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”
When asked if he would retire from politics after 2027, he said, “Certainly yes, the stakes are higher because I believe that will be my last outing.”
Reacting to question that asked if his choice was final, he responded firmly, “That’s incontrovertible.”
Atiku, who has been a top figure in Nigeria’s politics for years, acknowledged that convincing Nigerians to back his candidacy again remained the immediate task before him.
Addressing the criticism that he belongs to an older era rather than the future, Atiku argued that his experience remained relevant, saying, “I represent both the past and the future.”
He noted that while younger leaders have had opportunities in governance, their performance has not fully met societal expectations.
“We have seen various levels of leadership in the country, both young and old, and we’re experiencing them. And I still believe that our expectations of the young leadership are below what we thought,” he said.
The elder statesman emphasised the importance of experience in leadership, citing his time serving under former President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007).
He said, “What I was able to learn from President Obasanjo through his experience, I couldn’t have learnt it outside.”
The former vice president argued that younger political leaders require mentorship and exposure to governance to succeed, insisting that "young men also require experience to be able to succeed.”
Atiku also criticised the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the interview, describing its performance as disappointing.
“Bola has been a very bad president, to be honest with you. In the way he governs the country, whether economically or otherwise, it’s a disappointment,” he asserted.
He expressed concern about the state of democratic institutions, warning against the concentration of power.
“We have seen how, virtually, you know, the presidency has almost turned the various institutions that are supposed to be checks and balances under one roof, which is quite dangerous,” Atiku said.
He disclosed that he is a key driver of a broad political coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that alliances are important for electoral success in Nigeria.
“I am one of the initiators of this coalition, or perhaps the leading initiator of the coalition,” he added.
The ex-vice president noted that his position was informed by historical trends.
“I studied the political history of Nigeria; the only future is a broad coalition,” he said.
Additionally, Atiku stated that the emerging alliance cuts across major political blocs, saying, “You have elements from APC, from NNPP, from PDP, and from Labour. So that makes it a much broader coalition.”
He also reiterated confidence in his traditional political base in Northern Nigeria, declaring, “The North still remains my major political base.”
On constitutional reforms, he advocated formalising zoning in Nigeria’s constitution to ensure fairness in power rotation.
“Even if it is the only amendment I can make, I will move towards that,” he said.
