Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 presidential election will be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s president, arguing that the country needs experienced leadership to overcome its deepening political and economic challenges.
Atiku made the declaration on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he was asked whether turning 80 by the next election would make the race his last realistic shot at the presidency.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher, and I believe that will be my last outing,” he said.
The former vice president, who first sought the presidency in the 1993 Social Democratic Party primaries before stepping down for the late Moshood Abiola, has made several attempts to lead the country. He was on the presidential ballot in 2007, 2019 and 2023, losing most recently to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Responding to concerns about his age and repeated bids for the office, Atiku said Nigeria’s main challenge was not age but leadership capacity. He argued that his experience as a former vice president and former military administrator placed him in a stronger position to govern than less experienced politicians.
He said some relatively young governors had performed poorly because they lacked experienced leadership at the national level to guide them, adding that young Nigerians interested in leadership should undergo proper political training and mentorship.
“I personally believe that they require experience and tutelage from the older generation,” Atiku said.
Atiku also cited the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as an example of what he described as the consequences of insufficient experience at the highest level, saying Jonathan’s inexperience contributed to some of the difficulties faced by his government.
The comments come as opposition figures intensify coalition-building ahead of the 2027 elections, with Atiku now linked to efforts around the African Democratic Congress. Earlier in the same interview, he said he would support any consensus candidate chosen by the coalition, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, if such a candidate emerged through an agreed process.
