Atiku Says He Will Step Aside If Defeated by Younger Aspirant in ADC Primary
By Inemesit Friday
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he is willing to step aside for a younger aspirant if he fails to secure the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku made the statement in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday. He explained that although it is still too early to confirm whether he will contest, his immediate focus is on uniting the opposition under the ADC platform.
“This is only the beginning. Our priority is to strengthen the party and build a solid base. If I contest and a young aspirant defeats me, I will accept the outcome. The party we have joined now places emphasis on youth and women,” Atiku said.
He dismissed speculations that he might attempt to operate between the ADC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stressing, “I am not known for double-dealing. If I decide to take a path, I remain committed to it.”
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, formally resigned from the party in July 2025. In a letter dated July 14 and addressed to the Chairman of his PDP Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, he cited irreconcilable differences and claimed that the party had drifted from its founding ideals.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged. The current trajectory of the PDP is far removed from the principles we once stood for,” the 78-year-old politician stated in the letter.
Atiku’s defection to the ADC has since stirred political conversations across the country, particularly regarding the opposition’s chances in 2027 and the party’s efforts to attract young Nigerians into active politics.
