Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he is ready to step aside for a younger aspirant if he loses the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, made the remark in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, emphasizing that his current focus is not personal ambition but building a strong, united opposition platform under the ADC.
“This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following,” Atiku said. “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 also dismissed speculations that he might attempt to operate simultaneously within both the PDP and ADC. “No, I’m not known for that. If I say I am going one way, I will go that way,” he stated firmly.
Atiku, 78, resigned from the PDP in July 2025, citing irreconcilable differences and a deviation from the party’s founding principles. In a resignation letter dated July 14 and addressed to the chairman of the PDP’s Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, he wrote:
“I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for. It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.”
Atiku’s move to the ADC is widely seen as part of a broader effort to realign opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections. While he has yet to formally declare his intention to run, his remarks suggest that the former vice president could be open to playing a different role — possibly as a political elder — if a younger generation takes the lead within the party.
Political observers believe Atiku’s willingness to yield to youth leadership could reshape the dynamics of Nigeria’s opposition politics, especially as the ADC positions itself as a fresh alternative focused on inclusivity, women, and young people.
