ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has denied media reports suggesting he pledged to step aside for a younger candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesman, said the former vice-president’s remarks in a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service were “misrepresented” and did not amount to a withdrawal promise.
“It has become necessary to clarify certain misrepresentations arising from the reportage of an interview granted by His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, to the BBC Hausa Service by some sections of the media,” Ibe said.
“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.”
According to Ibe, Atiku merely affirmed that younger politicians and other aspirants were welcome to contest the presidency in 2027.
“What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest,” Ibe explained.
“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.”
The statement accused some outlets of engaging in “interpretative journalism” that stretched his remarks “to the point of mischief.”
Atiku, a three-time presidential candidate, is expected to run for the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which several opposition leaders have adopted as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general election.
Last week, reports quoted Atiku as saying he would accept defeat if a younger aspirant secured the ADC ticket, a claim his camp now says was inaccurate.
“Insinuations attributed to the Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said,” Ibe maintained.
