Atiku refutes claim of stepping down for Southern Pres Candidate

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

Atiku Abubarkar

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, has firmly denied claims that he was asked to step down for a southern presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.

According to Atiku’s media office, the reports are entirely false and were engineered by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to mislead the public.

Atiku described the claims as “malicious fabrication” and “propaganda”.

The controversy surrounding Atiku’s potential candidacy stems from a growing demand among southern Nigerian leaders and stakeholders for a southern presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.

They argue that the south deserves the presidency based on the principles of equity, justice, and rotation of power.

Atiku has rejected calls for him to step down, insisting on open primaries instead.

He believes that this approach will allow the best candidate to emerge, rather than imposing a particular candidate based on regional or ethnic considerations.

Atiku’s stance has sparked debate among political watchers, who worry that the friction may derail efforts to build a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku recently participated in the unveiling of the ADC as the political platform of a broad opposition coalition.

The ADC has been gaining traction as a credible alternative to the APC, and Atiku’s involvement has further boosted its profile.

The dispute over Atiku’s candidacy has significant implications for the 2027 general elections.

If not resolved, it could lead to divisions within the opposition coalition and potentially hand the APC an advantage.

However, if Atiku and other stakeholders can find common ground, the opposition may be able to present a united front and challenge the APC more effectively.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president described such reports as delusion.

He said there was never a meeting where discussions about the 2027 presidential candidacy were held.

He said the entire report is a malicious fabrication of fiction cooked up in the propaganda kitchens of the Tinubu-led APC regime.

Also describing such reports as desperate and laughable, the former vice president said that the ruling party members and leaders are focused on sowing discord within the opposition ranks.

He also stated that the All Progressives Congress-led administration hopes to derail the momentum gained by successfully unveiling the ADC as the coalition’s political vehicle.

”No amount of propaganda, planted stories, or faceless briefings will fracture the resolve of the opposition coalition.

We are united, focused, and determined to rescue Nigeria from the clutches of this rudderless government.

“We want to remind the ruling party that Nigerians have already embraced the ADC as the most credible and viable opposition platform ahead of 2027.

The massive and growing support that the ADC continues to enjoy across the country is not just encouraging – it is a clear signal that the Tinubu administration is living on borrowed time.

“We call on Nigerians and the media to treat the so-called “statement” with the contempt it deserves. It bears no attribution, no credibility, and no truth,” Atiku said