Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared he will not seek office beyond 2027 elections.
He revealed this when he appeared on ARISE TV on Wednesday.
Mr Atiku said he would quit the political stage after 2027, adding that “the stakes are higher because I believe that will be my last outing.”
He said it is the finality of his decision, as he reaffirmed “that’s incontrovertible.”
According to him, getting Nigerians to vote for him and back his candidacy again was the immediate task before him., adding that his experience remained relevant.
“I represent both the past and the future,” Atiku said, adding that younger leaders have had opportunities in governance, but their performance has not fully met the people’s expectations.
“We have seen various levels of leadership in the country, both young and old, and we’re experiencing them. And I still believe that our expectations of the young leadership are below what we thought.”
Atiku said the importance of experience in leadership cannot be over emphasised, drawing from his time serving under former President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007); “what I was able to learn from President Obasanjo through his experience, I couldn’t have learned it outside.”
He said younger political leaders require mentorship and exposure to governance to succeed, adding that “young men also require experience to be able to succeed.”
The former Vice president said the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s presidential candidate will emerge through a consensus option, but added that he would support whoever emerges as the winner of the party’s presidential primaries later in the year.
“The first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t work out, then we will go for primary elections. But I will support anybody who emerges.
He said he was willing to step aside if another candidate emerges through a consensus or electoral process within the coalition.
“I will step aside for any winner,” he said, adding when asked specifically about Peter Obi, “Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”
He said “Bola (President Tinubu) has been a very bad President, to be honest with you. In the way he governs the country, whether economically or otherwise, it’s a disappointment.
“We have seen how virtually the presidency has almost turned the various institutions that are supposed to be checks and balances, under one roof, which is quite dangerous.”
