Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to continue his quest for Nigeria’s presidency as long as his health allows. Drawing inspiration from former American President Abraham Lincoln, who famously persevered through multiple election defeats before reaching the White House, Atiku remains undeterred despite his previous losses.
“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” Atiku stated during an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America in Abuja.
At 77, Atiku was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, where he was defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu, respectively. Having served as vice president to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, Atiku will be 81 by the time of the next presidential election in 2027.
Despite his age, Atiku reiterated his commitment to his political aspirations. “Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning,” he noted. However, Atiku acknowledged the challenges within the PDP and emphasized the need for strong support and collaboration with other parties to secure an election victory.
In a recent interview, Atiku expressed his willingness to support the PDP’s decision if the party chooses to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South-East and select Peter Obi as its candidate. “I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party,” Atiku stated.
“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” he added in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service.
Addressing speculations about his meetings with Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Atiku described them as routine interactions among opposition leaders. “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest,” Atiku explained.
When asked about the possibility of a merger with other opposition parties, Atiku confirmed the feasibility. “Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that,” he concluded.
