Atiku Dismisses Reports of 2027 Exit Deal, Clarifies BBC Hausa Interview

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has firmly denied speculation that he plans to step down for any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described such reports as a deliberate distortion of his recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

“After a thorough review of both the video and transcripts of the interview – in the original Hausa and the English translation – it is evident that at no point did the former Vice President expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone,” the statement read.

According to Ibe, Atiku’s remarks were misinterpreted. He clarified that the former Vice President only encouraged young people and other aspirants to freely join the presidential race.

“What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest. He further stressed that if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation.

“While interpretative journalism is a legitimate aspect of reporting, stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged. For the record, therefore, the insinuations attributed to Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said,” Ibe added.

The clarification followed media reports that Atiku had declared he would step down from the race if a younger aspirant secured the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket in 2027.

During the interview, Atiku had explained: “If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women.”

The former Vice President further noted that he would be willing to support and mentor such a candidate.