Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar has suggested that the 2027 presidential election could be his final attempt to lead Nigeria, pointing to his age and the mounting political stakes.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday evening, Atiku — who will be approaching 80 by the next election — acknowledged that the contest may represent his last opportunity.
“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher and I believe that will be my last outing,” he said.
The remark adds a note of finality to a political journey spanning decades and multiple presidential bids. Since returning to frontline politics in the early 2000s, Atiku has repeatedly sought the country’s top office, positioning himself as a proponent of economic liberalisation, restructuring and private sector-led growth.
His pursuit of the presidency dates back to the 1990s, when he contested the Social Democratic Party primaries before stepping down for Moshood Abiola. He later ran under different party platforms in 2007 and 2011, before returning to the Peoples Democratic Party to mount bids in 2019 and 2023 — losing first to Muhammadu Buhari and then to the incumbent, Bola Tinubu.
Despite those setbacks, Atiku has remained a central figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics, often framing his candidacy as part of a broader reform agenda.
With political alignments for 2027 already taking shape, his latest comments are likely to intensify speculation over both his personal ambitions and the configuration of the opposition field — raising questions about whether one of Nigeria’s most persistent presidential hopefuls is approaching the end of the road.
