Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has indicated that the 2027 presidential election may mark his last attempt to lead Nigeria, citing his age and the increasing weight of the contest.
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on his long-standing ambition to become Nigeria’s president.
Responding to a question about turning 80 by 2027 and whether it would raise the stakes for him, the former vice president acknowledged that the election would most likely be his final run.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher and I believe that will be my last outing,” he said.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, has had a long and eventful political journey spanning decades.
His presidential ambition dates back to 1993 when he contested under the Social Democratic Party but stepped down for Moshood Abiola. He later ran in 2007 under the Action Congress but lost to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
In 2011, he contested again under the Action Congress of Nigeria but was defeated by Goodluck Jonathan. He returned to the PDP and ran in 2019, losing to Muhammadu Buhari.
Most recently, Atiku emerged as the PDP’s candidate in the 2023 election but was defeated by the current president, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Over the years, Atiku has remained a prominent voice on key national issues, consistently advocating restructuring, economic liberalisation, and a private sector-driven economy.
With early political alignments already taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections, his latest remarks are expected to fuel discussions about the future of Nigeria’s political landscape and the possible lineup of contenders in what could be a defining race.
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