Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has announced that the 2027 general election will be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s president.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Arise News, monitored by SaharaReporters, Atiku said he is fully aware of what is at stake as the next election approaches. The former vice-president, who will be 80 years old by 2027, confirmed that he has no plans to contest again after that year.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher because I believe that will be my last outing. So that’s incontrovertible,” he said when asked if 2027 would mark his final presidential bid.
When questioned on why Nigerians should still trust him despite his long presence in politics, Atiku argued that his experience gives him an advantage at a time the country needs steady leadership.
“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 stated.
He also expressed disappointment in the performance of younger leaders, noting that their leadership has not fully matched public expectations.
“I still believe that our expectations of the young leadership are below what we thought,” Atiku added, stressing that younger politicians need mentorship and direction from more experienced leaders.
Atiku explained that such mentorship is most impactful when exercised from within government.
“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.
His comments are expected to fuel renewed conversations around age, leadership capacity, and the growing demand for generational change in Nigeria’s political space ahead of the 2027 elections.
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