Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has ended months of speculation about his political future, declaring that he will be on the ballot in 2027.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) confirmed his intention through his close ally and spokesperson, Tunde Olusunle, during an interview with Thisday on Sunday night, August 24.
Atiku’s bold declaration came after reports suggested he might be stepping back from politics following remarks by Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University. Olateju had hinted that Atiku was more concerned with fixing Nigeria than seeking office.
The former Vice President, speaking from his holiday home in the United Arab Emirates, dismissed the claims.
“When people stand in for me at events, we preview my thoughts on the instant subject. In this particular instance, there was no engagement with me to distil my thoughts. Prof. Olateju was not speaking for me,” Atiku was quoted as saying.
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In a direct message to Nigerians, he set the record straight.
“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 level of poverty and pain, the anguish, is unacceptable,” he said.
Atiku also rallied his supporters, promising that the PDP coalition would shock critics and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election.
He accused the present administration of unchecked corruption and failure of leadership.
“The accompanying deceit, the loss of values, the mega-scale, unimpeded thievery and the absolute lack of accountability must disturb every concerned patriot.
“I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland,” Olusunle quoted him as saying.