Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not giving up on his dream of leading Nigeria. He has announced his intention to run for the presidency in the 2027 elections, making it his seventh attempt at the coveted seat.
This bold declaration was made on Wednesday, January 03, 2024, by Daniel Bwala, the spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
Bwala stated that Atiku, who has faced numerous challenges and disappointments in his previous bids, is determined to “surely contest” again in the next polls.
Speaking to ChannelsTV, Bwala praised Atiku as the best candidate for Nigeria, saying, “Sure, he [Atiku] would run. He has the capacity, he has the wisdom, he has the knowledge, he has the energy. And he is a president we never had. Because to be honest with you, if any politician understands the private sector very well, it is Atiku Abubakar, and our economy can only come alive if there is a private sector-led economy.”
Atiku Abubakar has been a consistent contender for the presidency since 1993, when he lost the primaries to the late Moshood Abiola. He has also contested in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, losing to different opponents at different stages.
However, political analysts have observed that Atiku’s relentless pursuit of the presidency may be causing more harm than good to his party, the PDP. They have argued that Atiku’s dominance of the party’s ticket may be alienating other potential candidates and weakening the party’s chances of winning the elections.
Will Atiku finally achieve his long-held aspiration in 2027? Will he be able to unite his party and rally the support of the masses? And will he be able to overcome the formidable challenge of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC)? These are some of the questions that will shape the political landscape of Nigeria in the coming years.