Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has made known his intention to rule out contesting the Nigerian presidency in 2031, declaring that the 2027 presidential election will be his final race.
Atiku made the declaration during an interview where he was asked directly whether he would contest the presidency again in 2031. Responding to the question, Atiku said he would not run again after the 2027 election, Echoing that he intends to bring his long running presidential ambitions to an end after the next general election.
Atiku is contesting the 2027 presidential election as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following his movement into the opposition coalition formed ahead of the election. He further urged Nigerians with Permanent Voters Card to vote in the 2027 election and remain at their polling units until their votes are counted.
However, the declaration marks a significant statement about the former vice president’s political future, having contested Nigeria’s presidency several times. Noting that he previously ran for president under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 and 2023, among his other presidential bids.
His decision to rule out 2031 run could also shape discussions around the future leadership of the opposition and the emergence of potential successors after the 2027 election.
With the 2027 presidential contest expected to be highly competitive, Atiku’s latest position makes the upcoming election particularly significant for his political career.
By Musekir Faisat OmolaraÂ
