Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports claiming he has withdrawn from partisan politics and the 2027 presidential race, describing the narrative as false and misleading.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his media office, Atiku said the claims were part of a “coordinated disinformation campaign” aimed at confusing the public and weakening political momentum.
“We wish to state, for the record, that information circulating on social media about a purported meeting… in which the former Vice President allegedly decided to ‘step aside and retire from active politics’ is entirely false,” the statement said.
The former presidential candidate clarified that he had not held any recent meeting with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the national level, noting that his only recent engagement was with party members in Adamawa State.
Atiku, who holds the traditional title of Waziri of Adamawa, stressed that any decision as significant as exiting politics would be formally communicated through official channels, not through rumours or third-party sources.
“An issue as fundamental as exiting active politics cannot be communicated through rumours or faceless sources,” he stated.
He further alleged that the reports bear the hallmarks of a deliberate attempt by anti-democratic elements to mislead Nigerians and disrupt opposition activities.
The statement urged supporters and members of the ADC to disregard the claims, describing them as “fake news in its entirety.”
Atiku had earlier dismissed similar reports in December suggesting he would step aside for younger aspirants, while reiterating in January that all qualified candidates would be free to contest the party’s presidential ticket when the process begins.
The latest development comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.