.denies stepping aside
By Our Reporter
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports of his retirement from active politics, describing such as “coordinated disinformation,” and a desperate attempt by anti-democratic elements to stall the rising momentum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The denial, contained in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, came amid mounting pressure from various political quarters suggesting that the 79-year-old politician should step aside to allow for a younger generation of leaders.
Social media reports claiming Atiku met with ADC stakeholders and agreed to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race had heightened such speculation.
Clarifying the situation, Ibe stated that while Atiku met with Adamawa State ADC stakeholders last Thursday, no such meeting or decision had occurred at the national level.
"Information circulating about a purported meeting… in which the former Vice President allegedly decided to 'step aside and retire from active politics,' is entirely false and deliberately misleading," the statement read.
Atiku emphasized that any decision regarding his political future would be communicated formally through the Atiku Media Office, rather than through "faceless sources or third-party fabrication."
He further alleged that the "mischief" is being driven by the current administration and its agents, who he claimed were "deeply unsettled" by a growing national consensus to challenge the status quo.
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The Waziri of Adamawa’s transition to the ADC follows a protracted leadership crisis within his former party, the PDP. However, his move has been met with a polarized reception:
Several civil society groups and younger political blocs have publicly urged Atiku to take an "elder statesman" role, arguing that his repeated runs since 1993 hinder the emergence of fresh opposition faces.
His supporters maintain that his experience is indispensable for "rescuing" Nigeria from its current economic and security challenges, viewing the retirement rumors as a state-sponsored tactic to fracture the opposition.
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