Viral song urging Atiku to step down sparks heated reaction

DDM News

A trending song asking former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside in the 2027 presidential race has triggered sharp responses from his camp.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Demola Olanrewaju, Atiku’s former Special Adviser on Digital Media Strategy, swiftly took to social media to defend the veteran politician.

The song, which circulated widely online on Saturday, August 2, 2025, politely appealed to Atiku to allow younger candidates take the reins of leadership.

With lyrics that called on the elder statesman to support generational transition, the video quickly gained traction on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok.

In response, Olanrewaju declared that Atiku would not be intimidated by social media campaigns or viral songs.

Speaking through his verified Twitter handle, Olanrewaju stated that Atiku remains unshaken and committed to contesting the 2027 presidential elections.

“Let me say it clearly,” he posted, “Atiku is too big to be bullied.”

He added that “Atiku will run in 2027, and the majority will vote for him, insha Allah and by God’s grace.”

Olanrewaju also claimed that the former Vice President has consistently been a target of coordinated media attacks.

According to him, the viral song was just another tactic in a long-standing strategy to derail Atiku’s ambition.

He described it as part of an orchestrated effort to frustrate credible opposition voices before the next general elections.

This development comes amid growing calls within and outside the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for fresh blood and younger candidates to be presented in 2027.

Critics argue that Atiku, who is now in his late seventies, should serve as a political elder rather than continue seeking the presidency.

However, his loyalists believe that his experience and consistency make him a viable contender capable of rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges.

Atiku has previously contested for the presidency six times, making him one of the most persistent candidates in Nigeria’s democratic history.

He was the PDP’s flagbearer in the 2019 and 2023 elections, both of which he lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

With the 2027 race still over a year away, the PDP is yet to formally announce its zoning arrangement or flagbearer.

But insiders say Atiku’s declaration could once again divide the party between old guards and reformists pushing for generational shift.

The song, though lighthearted in tone, has reignited a national conversation on age, leadership, and the future of Nigerian democracy.

Observers believe it marks an early beginning of the 2027 campaign season, one that could be shaped as much by culture and music as by manifestos.

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