Eshioromeh Sebastian in Abuja
Former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed rumours suggesting he has stepped aside from active politics, declaring that he remains in the race and is not ready to retire.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Atiku Media Office, the Waziri Adamawa described the circulating social media reports as “entirely false and deliberately misleading.”
The reports had claimed that Atiku held a meeting with national stakeholders of the ADC where he allegedly decided to “step aside and retire from active politics.”
The statement clarified that the former Vice President’s only recent engagement with ADC stakeholders took place in Adamawa State last Thursday, and no such decision was discussed.
“An issue as fundamental and consequential as exiting active politics cannot, and would never, be communicated through rumours, faceless sources, or third-party fabrication,” the statement read in part. “Such a decision, if ever taken, would be formally conveyed through the Atiku Media Office.”
The statement further alleged that the falsehood bore “all the hallmarks of a coordinated disinformation campaign designed to create confusion, dampen momentum, and mislead the Nigerian public.”
Atiku’s media office pointed an accusing finger at the government and its agents, stating:
“Only the government and its agents could have sponsored this desperate narrative out of fear of what is coming.”
The statement also described those behind the mischief as “anti-democratic elements” who are “deeply unsettled by the growing national consensus to rescue Nigeria from the failures of the current administration.”
Supporters of Atiku Abubakar, members of the ADC, and the general public were urged to disregard the fake news and remain focused on “the collective effort to reclaim and rebuild our nation.”
The clarification comes amid heightened political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Atiku widely regarded as a key figure in opposition efforts to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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