“I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned to” _ Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, , has affirmed that he will once again contest Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.

Atiku disclosed his position through his associate and spokesperson during the 2023 elections, Tunde Olusunle, saying that he remained committed to rescuing Nigeria from what he described as a worsening national decline.

His declaration came on the heels of speculations that he may not join the race in 2027, following comments credited to Prof. Ola Olateju of Achievers University that suggested that Atiku was now more focused on contributing to Nigeria’s development outside the presidency.

But recanting the remark from his holiday home in the United Arab Emirates, Atiku while dismissing it, said they were unauthorized.

“When people stand in for me at events, we preview my thoughts on the instant subject. In this particular instance, there was no engagement with me to distil my thoughts. Prof. Olateju was not speaking for me,” Atiku clarified.

Atiku, who has contested for Nigeria’s presidency multiple times, said: “I will run in 2027. Nigeria needs to be decisively rescued from the intensive care unit it has been consigned to. The degeneration in our country, the level of poverty and pain, the anguish, is unacceptable,” he declared.

Atiku also sought to reassure his supporters and political allies that the opposition coalition on the platform of ADC remained strong and will surprise critics in the next election.

“The accompanying deceit, the loss of values, the mega-scale, unimpeded thievery and the absolute lack of accountability must disturb every concerned patriot. I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatized homeland,” Olusunle quoted him as saying after conferring with him.

He criticised what he termed “unprecedented theft” under the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration and vowed that the opposition would mobilise Nigerians to challenge the ruling party in 2027.

“The degeneration… is unacceptable. Our coalition will shock the world in the 2027 presidential election despite attempts by the APC to ridicule it,” Atiku added.