Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims suggesting he is ready to step aside for a younger presidential aspirant in the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said reports that he made such a pledge during a BBC Hausa interview were “inaccurate and misleading.”
According to the statement, a review of the video and transcripts of the interview revealed that the former Vice President never said, implied, or suggested he would withdraw for any candidate.
“What Atiku Abubakar clearly stated was that young Nigerians and other aspirants are free to contest.
“He emphasised that if a younger candidate emerges through a competitive primary, he would support such a candidate,” Ibe clarified.
The statement also cautioned against what it described as “mischievous interpretations” of Atiku’s words by sections of the media.
“For the record, the insinuations attributed to the Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are false and do not represent what he actually said,” it added.
Atiku, who recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has yet to formally declare his intention to contest in 2027 but maintains that the party will open its ticket to both young and experienced politicians.