Media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has debunked a report which says Atiku is hinting at a 2027 presidential bid, saying the video being used to support the claim is from 2022.
The denial follows a viral video on X (formerly Twitter) in which Atiku was reportedly heard telling journalists that he would make a “formal announcement” about his candidacy in the next election. Media outlets had interpreted the clip as a signal of his 2027 ambitions.
However, in a statement released on Friday, Ibe described the reports as misleading.
“Atiku’s old video is being used for mischief,” Ibe said. “Yes, this was former Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), Atiku Abubakar, speaking to journalists ahead of the 2023 PDP presidential primary.”
He explained that Atiku’s confident tone in the video was natural for a candidate gearing up for a party primary, adding, “He sounded confident because that is what is expected of a man who had worked hard and was optimistic of victory in the primaries of the 2023 election.”
Ibe urged the public to view the clip in its proper context, warning against deliberate misrepresentation. “It is important to provide the context of this video to deprive mischief makers of the opportunity of misrepresenting what this video is all about,” he added.
