Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has debunked recent reports suggesting he is ready to step down for another presidential aspirant in the 2027 election. His media aide, Paul Ibe, issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that a viral video of Atiku’s recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service was misinterpreted.
The controversy arose after the interview led to widespread speculation that Atiku would withdraw his presidential bid if a younger, vibrant Nigerian won the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary election.
Misinterpretation of the Interview
Paul Ibe stated that a thorough review of the original Hausa audio and English transcript confirmed that Atiku “at no point did… expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone.”
The aide clarified precisely what the former Vice President communicated:
“What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest.”
“He further stressed that if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation.”
Ibe condemned the “mischief” arising from the stretched interpretation, emphasizing that the insinuations attributed to Atiku “are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said.” The statement was intended to set the record straight: Atiku is encouraging competition but is not committed to stepping aside before the primary process concludes.
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