2027: Atiku denies retirement claims, alleges plot to undermine ADC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting he is planning to retire from active politics, describing the claims as false and part of a calculated attempt to weaken the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Atiku, who recently joined the ADC after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reaffirmed his commitment to the political process and the opposition’s efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former presidential candidate said the speculation about his withdrawal from politics was a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at creating confusion within the opposition.

“The Waziri Adamawa has not in recent times held any such meeting with ADC stakeholders at the national level. The only recent engagement he had was with stakeholders of the ADC in Adamawa State last Thursday,” the statement said.

It stressed that a decision as significant as retiring from politics could not be communicated through rumours or unnamed sources.

“An issue as fundamental and consequential as exiting active politics cannot, and would never, be communicated through rumours, faceless sources, or third-party fabrication. Such a decision, if ever taken, would be formally conveyed through the Atiku Media Office,” the statement added.

Atiku’s camp described the report as a coordinated attempt by political opponents to destabilise the ADC and weaken the momentum of an emerging opposition coalition.

“This latest falsehood bears all the hallmarks of a coordinated disinformation campaign designed to create confusion, dampen momentum, and mislead the Nigerian public,” the statement noted.

The media office further alleged that some anti-democratic elements were uncomfortable with the growing collaboration among opposition figures seeking to present a viable alternative in the next general election.

“We state without equivocation that this mischief is being driven by anti-democratic elements who are deeply unsettled by the growing national consensus to rescue Nigeria from the failures of the current administration,” the statement said.

It called on Atiku’s supporters, members of the ADC, and Nigerians in general to disregard the speculation and remain focused on efforts to strengthen the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid ongoing political realignments across the country as major political actors reposition themselves ahead of the next presidential contest.