Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed that he will run for president in the 2027 election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling another attempt at Nigeria’s top political office.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, disclosed this during an interview on ARISE TV Morning Show on Wednesday evening.
Responding to a question about whether the 2027 contest would likely be his final presidential bid given that he would be close to 80 years old, the former vice president acknowledged the high stakes of the race.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher and I believe that will be my last outing,” Atiku said.
Atiku has made several attempts to become Nigeria’s president since returning to partisan politics. His presidential ambition dates back to the 1993 election cycle when he contested the primaries of the Social Democratic Party before stepping down for the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
He later ran in the 2007 presidential election under the Action Congress, losing to the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. In 2011, he again contested under the Action Congress of Nigeria but lost to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
After returning to the PDP, Atiku secured the party’s presidential ticket for the 2019 election but was defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He also emerged as the PDP candidate in the 2023 presidential election, where he lost to Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Over the years, the former vice president has consistently campaigned on policies centered on restructuring Nigeria’s political system, economic liberalisation, and private sector-driven growth.