Atiku says he will contest 2027 presidential election

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he will contest the 2027 presidential election, and will keep contesting for Nigeria’s top job for as long as his health allows him.

“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” he said in an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America.

Why this matters

The announcement is the clearest indication the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans to challenge President Bola Tinubu again for the top seat after the 2023 election in which he was declared second.

Mr Abubakar has run for president six times, but he was on the ballot only in 2007, 2019, and 2023.

He was vice president between 1999 and 2007 during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, and later joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), helping the party to get to power in 2015, before rejoining the PDP.

The Lincoln Factor

Mr Abubakar repeated his comment about being inspired by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, who contested many times before he could become the occupant of the White House.

“Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning,” he said.

PDP and LP

Mr Abubakar, who will turn 80 in 2027, appears to be the first major potential contender to announce his next bid. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has not announced he will run again, but is widely expected to challenge the ruling party in 2027.

Mr Abubakar and Mr Obi met last week amid speculations of a possible alliance of the two candidates.

In the VOA interview, as reported by Punch and The Cable, Mr Abubakar said his party needs to be united and forge alliances with other political parties to win the 2027 election.

“However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required,” he said.

Repeating a recent comment in a BBC interview on the possibility of supporting Mr Obi, the former vice president said:

“This is to anybody that thinks there is going to be a misunderstanding between me and Obi, let me assure you that not even a small issue is going to happen between us,” he said.

“Also, we are going to be behind anybody that will be chosen to represent us in the forthcoming elections.

“I have said repeatedly, and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” he said.

Regarding their meeting, he said, “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.”