Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 presidential election may mark his final attempt to become Nigeria’s President, citing his age and the rising stakes of the contest.
Atiku, who will turn 80 by 2027, made the remark during an interview on Prime Time on Arise Television anchored by Charles Aniagolu on Wednesday evening.
Responding to a question on whether the 2027 race would carry added significance given his age, the former vice president acknowledged that it would likely be his last bid.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher and I believe that will be my last outing. This is incontrovertible,” he said.
Atiku added that his decision to contest would, however, depend on securing the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The former vice president has made multiple attempts to clinch Nigeria’s top job since returning to partisan politics, building one of the most consistent presidential ambitions in the country’s democratic history.
He first sought the presidency in 1993 under the Social Democratic Party primaries, where he stepped down for the late Moshood Abiola.
In 2007, he contested under the Action Congress but lost to the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He again ran in 2011 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, losing to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku contested the 2019 presidential election but was defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In 2023, he once again flew the PDP flag but lost to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Over the years, Atiku has consistently positioned himself as a proponent of restructuring, economic liberalisation, and private sector-driven growth, themes that have remained central to his political campaigns.
