2027 Presidency: ‘My BBC Interview Twisted’- Atiku Denies Stepping Down For Young Aspirant

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied reports claiming that he intends to step down for another presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reports earlier suggested that Atiku vowed he would step aside from the 2027 presidential contest if a younger aspirant defeated him to secure the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket.

The Wazirin Adamawa reportedly made this known during an interview with the BBC. He explained that his focus for now is to help build the ADC into a strong party with national and grassroots structures.

However, in a statement released on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the reports as a deliberate misrepresentation of his recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service.

Ibe explained that both the video and transcripts of the interview, in Hausa and in English, were carefully reviewed and nowhere did Atiku say, suggest, or imply that he would step down for anyone.

The statement read, “After a thorough review of both the video and transcripts of the interview, in the original Hausa and the English translation, it is evident that at no point did the former Vice President expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone.

“What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest.

He further stressed that if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation.”

‘Mischief Must Not Be Encouraged’

Ibe criticised what he called an attempt to twist the former vice president’s words.

“While interpretative journalism is a legitimate aspect of reporting, stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged. For the record, therefore, the insinuations attributed to Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said,” he added.

Ibe insisted that Atiku has not made any decision to step aside before the contest begins.

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