Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has signaled a dramatic shift in his presidential ambitions, declaring that a potential 2027 bid would likely be his last.
Speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, monitored by The News Chronicle, the African Democratic Congress chieftain acknowledged that age and rising political stakes are reshaping his outlook. By the next election cycle, Atiku will be 80.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher, and I believe that will be my last outing,” he said when asked if 2027 would mark his final run.
The veteran politician has mounted multiple bids for Nigeria’s top office, appearing on the ballot in 2007, 2019, and 2023 since his return to partisan politics in 2003, each time unsuccessfully.
Atiku, who flew the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election before defecting to the ADC in 2025, also used the interview to stress the importance of generational mentorship in politics.
He argued that younger Nigerians must first gain experience under the guidance of established leaders before seeking the presidency. “I personally believe that they require experience and tutelage from the older generation,” he said.
The remarks mark a notable departure from his stance just a year earlier. In 2024, Atiku had struck a defiant tone, insisting he would remain a perennial contender. “Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” he had said.
The latest comments suggest a narrowing political horizon for one of Nigeria’s most persistent presidential hopefuls.
