I will keep contesting presidency, says Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria, expressed his determination to continue running for the country’s presidency as long as his health permits.

He drew inspiration from the perseverance of Abraham Lincoln, who ran for president multiple times before winning.

I will persist in running for office as long as I am alive and well, Atiku stated in an interview with the Hausa service of Voice of America in Abuja.

At 77 years old, he was the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in both the 2019 and 2023 elections.

In both the 2019 and 2023 elections, Atiku was defeated by the previous President Muhammadu Buhari and the current President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku, who was Vice President under Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, will be 81 years old when the next presidential election takes place in 2027.

Despite his advancing age, Atiku has expressed his intention to continue running for the presidency as long as his health allows.

Abraham Lincoln, the former US President, faced seven challenges before emerging victorious, as he recounted. Yet, it is evident that the upcoming election cannot be won through individual efforts alone in light of the current status of the PDP.

It necessitates strong backing and cooperation from other political factions. Atiku also expressed his willingness to back Peter Obi if the PDP designates him as their candidate for the South-East in 2027.

He reiterated his stance on respecting the party’s decisions regarding zoning, emphasizing that his participation in the 2023 presidential race was due to an open contest within the party.

Atiku affirmed his readiness to support Peter Obi should he be chosen by the party for this role in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service.

Atiku described the meeting with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as a routine friendly gathering common among opposition parties.

He emphasized the importance of such interactions for Nigeria’s democracy and national welfare. When asked about the possibility of a merger, Atiku expressed openness to the idea, stating that it could lead to a shared objective. He concluded by affirming that achieving this goal is feasible and can be accomplished if desired.