Atiku has denied stepping down from 2027 race to support Peter Obi.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denied claims that he attended a meeting where he was allegedly asked to step down from the 2027 presidential race in favour of a southern candidate.
In a statement issued by his Media Office on Tuesday, Atiku dismissed the reports as false, desperate, and politically motivated, describing them as a fabrication from the “propaganda kitchens” of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This comes amid rising speculation following the recent formation of a major opposition coalition, which includes political heavyweights such as Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal, and Nasir El-Rufai. The group has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
“There was no such meeting. Atiku Abubakar was never in attendance. The entire story is a malicious fabrication — pure fiction cooked up in the propaganda kitchens of the Tinubu-led APC regime,” the statement read.
Atiku’s camp emphasized that the reports are a diversionary tactic by the APC aimed at creating disunity within the opposition and derailing the momentum generated by the coalition’s unveiling of the ADC.
“This is nothing but an attempt by a faltering administration to sow discord within the opposition ranks,” the statement continued. “But let it be known: no amount of propaganda, planted stories, or faceless briefings will fracture the resolve of the opposition coalition.”
The former Vice President reiterated that the ADC is rapidly gaining ground as a credible and united opposition force, with growing nationwide support signaling deep dissatisfaction with the current administration.
“The massive support for the ADC is a clear signal that the Tinubu administration is living on borrowed time,” Atiku’s media team added.
The statement concluded by urging Nigerians and the media to disregard the unsubstantiated report, stating that it lacks attribution, credibility, and truth.