2027: Atiku explains why past defeats won’t stop his presidential ambition

 

Atiku Abubakar

By Victor Olubiye

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has explained why he remains determined to pursue the Nigerian presidency despite several unsuccessful attempts in previous elections.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, said his decision to continue seeking the presidency was consistent with his long political history and his belief that he still has a contribution to make to Nigeria.

The former vice president made the remarks during an interview with the BBC published on Friday.

Reflecting on his political journey, Atiku said his ambition to participate in democratic politics dates back to his opposition to military rule. He recalled that he attempted to contest for governor on several occasions but was prevented from doing so by the military authorities during Nigeria's transition to democracy.

According to him, he contested for governor four times, but was repeatedly disqualified whenever he emerged victorious in the process.

Atiku also recalled that he eventually went into exile following what he described as an attempt on his life.

He said the challenges he encountered throughout his political career had prepared him to persevere despite setbacks.

The former vice president argued that contesting the presidency several times should not be considered unusual given his political history.

Addressing questions over his continued presidential ambition, Atiku said seeking the highest political office was within his constitutional rights.

He also maintained that he remains physically capable of serving as president and believes his experience, competence and patriotism make him qualified to lead the country.

Atiku said his decision to seek the presidency again was also informed by his belief that Nigeria was not currently heading in the right direction.

The ADC candidate further spoke about the country's security challenges, blaming what he described as inadequate attention to defence and security needs by successive governments.

He argued that Nigeria requires more personnel and equipment to effectively tackle insecurity, noting that the country's security agencies remain inadequately staffed relative to its population.

Atiku said that, if elected president, his administration would prioritise the security situation and that Nigerians should begin to see significant improvements within one year.

He also made a claim about President Bola Tinubu's age during the interview, saying he had records which, according to him, supported his position. The interviewer challenged the claim, after which Atiku said he would present the alleged evidence in court.

Atiku's latest declaration comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures and political parties positioning themselves for the presidential contest.