Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, stressing that Nigeria needs urgent rescue from worsening poverty, pain, and despair.
Atiku made the declaration while reacting to recent comments credited to Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Ondo State, who suggested that the former vice-president was not desperate to become president
. Olateju had represented him at a Lagos event where defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
But Atiku swiftly dismissed the remarks, insisting they did not reflect his true position.
“I did not issue that statement,” Atiku told his former media aide, Tunde Olusunle, during a phone call.
“There was no engagement with me on those comments. Prof. Olateju was not speaking for me.”
The former vice-president made it clear that he remains committed to seeking Nigeria’s highest office in 2027.
“I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned to.
The degeneration in our country the poverty, the pain, the anguish is unacceptable.
I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland,” Atiku declared.
Speaking from the United Arab Emirates, where he is currently based, Atiku also hinted that the ADC coalition to which he belongs is working on building a broad political movement strong enough to “shock the world” and upstage the ruling establishment in 2027.
Atiku, who turned 78 this year, has contested Nigeria’s presidency six times.
He was on the ballot as a major candidate in 2007, 2019, and 2023.
In May 2024, he openly vowed to continue contesting as long as his health permits.
If he secures his party’s ticket, Atiku will be 81 years old when Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.