Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that the 2027 presidential election will be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s President.
Atiku ruled out any plan to seek the presidency again in 2031, making the declaration during a Hausa-language interview on Wednesday.
Asked whether he would contest again if he lost the 2027 election, the former vice-president gave a firm response.
“No, I have said it before, right from this election, I will not contest again,” he said.
Atiku, who has contested the presidency several times, urged Nigerians who have Permanent Voter Cards to participate actively in the 2027 election, saying voting remained a crucial means of influencing the country’s future.
He appealed to voters to participate not only for themselves but also for their families and the next generation.
“First of all, I appeal to those who have voter cards, for their own sake, their families, and their future, to go out and vote. That is the solution to the problems they are facing,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president also urged voters to remain at their polling units after casting their ballots to monitor the counting and ensure that their votes were properly accounted for.
“After going out to vote, they should also stay, escort, and ensure that those votes are counted,” he said.
Atiku also dismissed concerns about his age and ability to cope with the demands of the presidency, insisting that he remained physically fit to govern the country.
“No doctor has declared that I am unfit in terms of health. I know my body, I know I am healthy, and I do not have a single defect,” he said.
The declaration puts a definitive limit on Atiku’s presidential ambition as he enters the 2027 contest, which he has now described as his final bid for the nation’s highest political office.
Atiku is contesting the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the ADC after joining forces with opposition politicians and political stakeholders seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.
