By Uzair Adam
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he is yet to decide whether he will run for president in 2027, emphasizing that a strong and viable platform is crucial before making any commitment.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Trust ahead of the airing of Untold Stories, a television program hosted by Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, Atiku addressed speculations about his political future but remained noncommittal.
“I don’t know because there has to be, first of all, a viable platform, more than any other time in the political history of this country, particularly since the return of democracy,” he said.
Atiku, who has contested the presidency six times, recently announced a coalition of opposition leaders aiming to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
However, questions remain about who will lead the alliance, with Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, and Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, among those being considered.
Despite his uncertainty, Atiku stressed that Nigeria is in urgent need of experienced and credible leadership.
“I have not seen Nigeria in such a dire need of strong leadership as we are today,” he said.
Atiku also addressed the controversy surrounding his decision not to select Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as his running mate in the 2023 election.
He explained that unlike in 2019, when he picked Peter Obi without broad consultations and faced backlash, he allowed the party to recommend three candidates in 2023, ultimately choosing Ifeanyi Okowa, who was ranked first, over Wike, who was second on the list.
“No, not at all,” Atiku said when asked if he regretted not picking Wike.
Reflecting on the 1993 presidential election, Atiku recounted how his political mentor, the late Shehu Yar’adua, asked him to step down for Chief Moshood Abiola.
He said an initial agreement was for Abiola to select him as his running mate, but governors within the Social Democratic Party (SDP) pressured Abiola into choosing Babagana Kingibe instead.
“They threatened him and said, ‘Look, if you don’t take Kingibe, we are not going to support you.’ Abiola felt it was a risk worth taking,” Atiku said.
While Atiku remains undecided about his 2027 ambition, his recent political moves suggest he continues to play a significant role in Nigeria’s opposition politics.