Atiku: I didn’t promise to step down for anybody — I said I’d support whoever gets ADC ticket

Atiku Abubakar has denied reports that he promised to step down for a “younger candidate” in the 2027 presidential election.

Paul Ibe, his spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the former vice-president’s statement was misrepresented.

“It has become necessary to clarify certain misrepresentations arising from the reportage of an interview granted by His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, to the BBC Hausa Service by some sections of the media,” Ibe said on behalf of his principal.

“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.

“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 records, therefore, the insinuations attributed to the Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said.”

Atiku is expected to run for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has been adopted by major opposition politicians as the platform to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power.

TheCable reported on Thursday that the three-time presidential candidate said he could accept defeat if a young aspirant beats him to the ADC ticket in the primary election.