APC Chieftain Urges Atiku to Quit 2027 Race and “Embrace Statesmanship”
Wednesday, 22 July 2026
By Atlantic Digest Political Desk
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and embrace what he described as the role of a statesman, arguing that Nigeria would benefit from a new generation of political leadership.
The APC stalwart said Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times, should focus on mentoring younger politicians rather than seeking another bid for the nation’s highest office. He also cited the impact of the former vice president’s 2023 presidential campaign on Nigeria’s political landscape, urging him to prioritise national unity over continued electoral contests.
The remarks come amid escalating political exchanges between the Presidency and the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has intensified its criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest controversy also follows reports that a Washington-based lobbying firm retained by interests linked to Atiku submitted publicly available documents relating to President Tinubu’s 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture proceedings to members of the Trump administration and the United States Congress.
The decades-old forfeiture case has remained a subject of political debate in Nigeria for years. However, the issue has previously been examined by Nigerian courts, including during post-election litigation, which did not find it sufficient to disqualify Tinubu from holding public office.
Political analysts say the renewed international lobbying campaign reflects the increasingly global dimension of Nigeria’s domestic politics, with both government and opposition figures seeking to shape international opinion ahead of the next election cycle.
Neither Atiku Abubakar nor the leadership of the ADC had issued an official response to the APC chieftain’s remarks at the time of filing this report.
With less than a year before political parties begin preparations for the 2027 elections, observers expect competition between the ruling APC and opposition parties to intensify, as debates over governance, accountability and leadership continue to dominate Nigeria’s political landscape.
