The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has announced that the 2027 presidential election will likely be his final bid for the leadership of Nigeria, citing the high stakes involved and his advancing age as key factors in his decision. Atiku, who served as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday evening, providing a definitive timeline for a political career that has spanned several decades and multiple attempts at the presidency.
Responding to questions regarding the significance of the next election cycle, especially as he will be turning 80 by 2027, the former vice president acknowledged that the upcoming contest would be his last outing. He expressed his belief that the stakes for the nation have become considerably higher and noted that he does not intend to seek the office again after the conclusion of the 2027 exercise. This announcement comes as political actors and observers begin to monitor early alignments and speculations ahead of the next national vote.
The veteran politician has been a central figure in Nigeria's democratic transitions since the early 1990s, with a record of presidential bids across various political platforms. His journey began in 1993 when he contested in the Social Democratic Party primaries before stepping down for the late Moshood Abiola. He later ran in the 2007 election under the Action Congress, losing to the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and made another attempt in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria, where he lost to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Returning to the Peoples Democratic Party, he secured the party’s ticket for the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, losing to former President Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu, respectively. Throughout these campaigns, the former vice president has consistently advocated for a platform focused on restructuring the country, economic liberalisation and promoting a private sector-driven growth model, which he maintains is essential for Nigeria’s development.
With the 2027 election cycle gradually moving into focus, his latest remarks are expected to influence the strategic direction of the Peoples Democratic Party and the broader opposition. By labeling the next election as his final attempt, the former vice president has signaled the beginning of what could be the concluding phase of one of Nigeria’s most enduring political careers, leaving stakeholders to consider how his eventual retirement will reshape the competition for the presidency in the years to follow.
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