Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has unequivocally denied recent reports suggesting that he intends to step down for a younger presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections. These claims, which emerged following an interview Atiku granted to the BBC Hausa Service, have been widely clarified by his media team as misrepresentations of his actual statements.

Atiku Abubakar, who had previously indicated his interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election, has been actively involved in opposition movements. In August, he, along with other prominent opposition figures such as former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), and Peter Obi (Anambra), adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a collective platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming elections.

In a detailed statement issued by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, it was emphasized that a comprehensive review of both the video and transcripts of the BBC Hausa interview—in its original Hausa and English translation—revealed no instance where the former Vice-President explicitly stated, suggested, or even implied any intention to withdraw from the race or step down for another individual. Ibe clarified that the viral video had been misinterpreted by sections of the media.

What Atiku Abubakar actually communicated, clearly and unambiguously, was that young people, along with other prospective presidential aspirants, are entirely free to enter the contest for the presidency. He further stressed that should a young candidate emerge victorious through a competitive primary election process, he would readily offer his support to such a candidate without any hesitation. This position highlights his belief in democratic competition and support for emerging leadership, rather than a personal withdrawal.

Paul Ibe strongly criticized the misinterpretations, stating, “While interpretative journalism is a legitimate aspect of reporting, stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged.” He reiterated that the insinuations attributed to Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he truly said, thus dismissing the claims as false and misleading.