Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president of Nigeria, has denied the claim that he had stepped down from the 2027 presidential race.
The dismissal of the claim was made by one of his media aides, Damola Olanrewaju, in a social media post
This denial has attracted condemnation from concerned Nigerians, who expressed the view that the former vice president would be old by 2027.
Quoting the tweet making the claim, the former vice president’s aide alleged that the report was being sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the camp of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
Atiku’s camp described the report as a “dedicated effort towards bullying Atiku out of a legitimate presidential aspiration”, adding that the report was coming from the calculation of President Tinubu.
He then clarified that “Atiku is too big to be bullied” and that the former vice president “will run in 2027”. He went further to express the confidence that Atiku will be voted for in the next election.
His tweet has started generating reactions from concerned Nigerians. Below are some of their reactions:
Emmanuel Effiong advised the ex-VP to step down: “I don’t think it’s advisable for a man who’ll be more than 80 years old before the 2027 election to contest. The complexity of the Nigerian governance and political system isn’t something that should be left for an octogenarian who’s at the departure lounge of his life to handle.”
Agupard sent a message to the vice presidential aide: “You think it’s a good idea for a man to become president of a developing nation for the first time at 81 years old, having last held public office 20years earlier? He is both old and rusty. Many of you want him there so that you guys would literally run the nation.”
Adieikor mentioned regions Atiku can’t win: “Atiku only appeals to Voters in NE and some parts of NW. If elections are held today, he can’t win a single state in NC, SS, SE, or SW. His aspirations after Buhari’s 8 years are an affront to the sensibilities of the large majority of Nigerians. He is simply unelectable.”
Ustyno gave an analysis of Atiku’s trajectory: “Atiku must run like he did in 2023, and Tinubu again will have his way like he did before. By 2031, when naturally, power will go back to the North, he will want to run again and will need the votes of those he was supposed to support in 2023/27, but he didn’t and guess what he will lose.”
Araba Kpura reacted: “I think it is germane. There should be a terminus for ambition; just like the civil service and other professions have their terminal points. If you love him, ask him to project his son or daughter. These people still have many years ahead of them.”
