Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied reports suggesting he plans to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, describing the claims as false and a deliberate misrepresentation of his comments.
In a statement on Thursday, his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, clarified that Atiku’s recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service was wrongly interpreted by sections of the media. He said a careful review of the video and transcripts, both in Hausa and English, confirmed that the former Vice President never indicated any intention to step aside from the contest.
“What Atiku Abubakar clearly said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to join the race,” Ibe explained, adding that Atiku only emphasized his willingness to support a younger candidate if such a person were to emerge through a credible primary process.
The statement criticised what it called “mischievous interpretations” of the interview, warning that stretching journalism beyond ethical limits was capable of misleading the public.
“For the records, therefore, the insinuations attributed to the Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said,” Ibe stressed.
