The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shrugged off reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, is planning to contest the 2027 election, News About Nigeria reports.
Bala Ibrahim, the Director of Publicity for the APC, dismissed Atiku’s 2027 ambition as the ‘most laughable news of 2024’ and expressed confidence that the former vice-president would face defeat once again.
In an interview with The Punch on Wednesday, Ibrahim pointed out that Atiku had been defeated multiple times, including in the 2023 election, where the Supreme Court affirmed President Bola Tinubu as the winner.
He described Atiku as having no political value and suggested that the former VP should retire from politics, adding that he was being misled by his aides and associates.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, confirmed on Tuesday night that Atiku would run again in the 2027 presidential election.
Bwala praised Atiku as having the capacity, wisdom, knowledge, and energy for the presidency.
However, the APC publicity director, Bala Ibrahim, countered this, stating that Atiku could not be considered a threat to the APC and that his ambition was a ‘dream that will not come to pass’.
Ibrahim questioned Atiku’s political value and advised him to quit politics, alleging that he was surrounded by people who misled him.
He claimed that Atiku had never been a force to reckon with and would diminish further in terms of political value by 2027.
The APC spokesperson concluded, “Atiku is not a force to reckon with. He has never been a force to reckon with and he cannot be in 2027 when he must have diminished in terms of political value. We have not gotten to the bridge, but when we get there we will cross it.”
Atiku attempted to become Nigeria’s president six times but was unsuccessful in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
