Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed media reports suggesting that he plans to step down for another aspirant in the 2027 presidential race, describing them as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku clarified remarks he made during a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service.
The statement explained that after reviewing both the video and transcripts of the interview in Hausa and English, it was clear that Atiku never stated, suggested, or implied that he would step down for anyone.
“What Atiku Abubakar clearly said was that young people and other aspirants are free to contest. He added that if a young candidate emerges through a competitive primary, he would support such a candidate,” Ibe said.
He further criticized sections of the media for what he called “interpretative journalism taken to the point of mischief,” insisting that the insinuations attributed to Atiku were inaccurate and a misrepresentation of his comments.
Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President between 1999 and 2007, recently joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and is seen as a key contender ahead of the 2027 elections.
