Atiku to ADC: I may drop presidential bid if party fulfil conditions

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he would withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presents a younger, vibrant, and widely acceptable candidate.

Atiku made the pledge during an interview with BBC Hausa on Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, stressing that his ambition should not prevent youths from contesting. He assured that he was ready to support and mentor young aspirants willing to take on the challenge of “rescuing Nigeria.”

The former PDP presidential candidate dismissed suggestions that he is desperate for power, insisting that his interest is solely in liberating the country from entrenched leadership failures.

“If the ADC can present a young, vibrant and acceptable candidate for the 2027 election, I am willing to step down for such an individual,” Atiku stated.

He explained that his decision to join the ADC was borne out of frustration with the internal crises of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that the ruling APC used some senior PDP leaders to weaken the opposition.

“At PDP, the hope of fixing the crises was fading. Some leaders were being used to destabilize the party. If I had influence over the chairman or secretary, the story might have been different. Unfortunately, their interests were personal,” he noted.

Atiku said the ADC’s priority is to strengthen its structures across the states and local governments ahead of 2027, building on the national leadership already in place.