The daily Torch media.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he is ready to drop his 2027 presidential ambition if a younger, widely acceptable candidate emerges under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking to BBC Hausa on Wednesday during Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, Atiku stressed that his interest in 2027 is not driven by personal ambition but by the need to rescue Nigeria.
He called on younger Nigerians to actively engage in politics, assuring them of his full support if they step forward to lead.
“My being in the 2027 race does not prevent anyone from contesting. If a vibrant and widely accepted younger candidate emerges, I am willing to step aside,” he said.
Why I Left PDP for ADC – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has explained his decision to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing persistent internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and alleged interference by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Atiku accused some PDP leaders of working with the APC to sabotage efforts to build a united opposition.
“We couldn’t achieve our objectives in the PDP because some leaders were being influenced by the APC to frustrate the opposition. The crisis kept growing, and hopes of resolving it kept fading,” he said.
Atiku lamented that if he had held a key leadership role within the PDP, he would have taken decisive action to resolve the issues, but those in charge prioritized personal interests over party unity.
Strengthening ADC for 2027.
Speaking on the ADC’s future, Atiku revealed the party has completed setting up its national leadership and is now focused on building robust structures across states and local governments in preparation for the 2027 general election.
“Our plan is to ensure the ADC has solid structures at every level so we can be fully prepared for the elections,” he said.
He also reflected on Nigeria’s post-independence progress, stating, “Nigeria has experienced changes, but they are not the kind of progress our founding fathers envisioned. There’s still a lot of work to be done.
