Atiku Abubakar says the Atiku 2027 election bid will be his last. The ADC presidential candidate says he will not seek the presidency again if he loses the 2027 poll.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said the Atiku 2027 election bid will be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s president, ruling out another presidential contest if he fails to win the next election. The former vice president made the declaration during a recent interview while discussing his political future and the opposition’s challenge to President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku’s declaration effectively puts an end date to his long-running pursuit of the Nigerian presidency. The former vice president has contested the office several times across different political platforms, including the Peoples Democratic Party, and now hopes to lead the ADC and its opposition coalition into the 2027 presidential contest.
During the interview, Atiku described the 2027 election as his last outing, saying the stakes were higher this time. His comments confirm earlier remarks in which he said he believed the next presidential election would be his final attempt at securing Nigeria’s highest political office.
The former vice president’s decision comes as the ADC positions itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku joined the party as part of a broader coalition involving opposition politicians who want to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress and prevent President Bola Tinubu from securing a second term.
Atiku has argued that the 2027 election presents a serious opportunity for the opposition because of what he describes as failures by the Tinubu administration. In an earlier interview, he said Tinubu could not win a free and fair election, pointing to economic hardship and dissatisfaction with government policies.
The former vice president’s political journey has made the 2027 contest particularly significant. He previously contested the presidency in 2019 and 2023, losing to Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu respectively. In 2023, Tinubu won the presidential election with about 8.8 million votes, while Atiku finished second with almost seven million votes.
Atiku’s latest position also comes amid intense competition within the ADC itself. Several prominent politicians have expressed interest in the party’s presidential ticket, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and other opposition figures. The party has therefore faced the difficult task of managing competing presidential ambitions while trying to maintain a united opposition front.
Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform, has also expressed his intention to contest the 2027 election. His presence within the wider ADC coalition created expectations of a possible contest between him and Atiku for the opposition party’s presidential ticket.
Amaechi has also emerged as a major figure within the opposition camp. He eventually became Atiku’s running mate on the ADC ticket, creating a ticket that the party has presented as a broad national alliance. The choice has, however, attracted criticism from some political groups that question whether the ticket can secure enough support across Nigeria’s regions.
According to Newstridez observations, the opposition’s challenge goes beyond selecting candidates. Parties must also build structures across Nigeria, mobilise voters, secure polling agents and convince citizens that they can offer a credible alternative to the APC. Atiku himself has repeatedly criticised the ruling party while calling for a stronger opposition capable of challenging the government at the ballot box.
Meanwhile, the political contest has already moved beyond campaign speeches and into legal battles. Atiku and the ADC recently filed a case at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to disqualify Tinubu from the 2027 presidential race over alleged discrepancies concerning his National Youth Service Corps certificate. Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission are defendants in the suit.
The legal action adds another dimension to the approaching election, although the court process remains separate from the political contest that will ultimately be decided by Nigerian voters. The 2027 race is still months away, and political alliances, candidates and campaign strategies could change before Nigerians go to the polls.
For Atiku, however, the personal stakes appear clearer than ever. If he wins, he would finally achieve the presidency after decades in national politics and several unsuccessful attempts. If he loses, his latest declaration means he would not return for another presidential contest.
The Atiku 2027 election bid will therefore carry the weight of what the former vice president describes as his final presidential outing. As the ADC and other opposition groups prepare for the campaign, Nigerians will ultimately judge the competing candidates on their records, policies, experience and ability to address the country’s economic and security challenges.
