Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has announced that the 2027 general election will mark his last attempt to become Nigeria’s president.
Atiku made the declaration on Wednesday during an Arise News interview monitored by SaharaReporters, where he spoke candidly about his long political career and future ambitions.
The presidential hopeful, who will be 80 years old by the next election cycle, acknowledged that the stakes are significantly higher for him.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher because I believe that will be my last outing. So that’s incontrovertible,” Atiku said when asked if 2027 would be his final bid.
Pressed further by the anchor on why Nigerians should still place their trust in him despite his decades-long presence in politics, Atiku argued that his experience positions him uniquely to lead the country at a critical time.
“I represent both the past and the future simply because we have seen various levels of leadership in the country, both young and old, and we’re experiencing them,” he said.
The former vice-president also expressed concerns about the performance of younger leaders, suggesting that expectations have not been fully met.
“I still believe that our expectations of the young leadership are below what we thought,” he added, stressing the need for mentorship and guidance from older, more experienced politicians.
According to Atiku, such guidance is most effective when exercised from positions of authority.
“Sometimes you need to be [in power]. What I was able to learn from President Olusegun Obasanjo through his experience, I couldn’t have learned it outside,” he said.
Atiku’s latest comments are likely to reignite debates over age, experience, and generational leadership in Nigeria’s political landscape as the 2027 race gradually comes into focus.
