2027: Atiku Says Age, Defeats Cannot Stop His Ambition
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has renewed his determination to contest Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, saying his previous electoral defeats would not prevent another attempt at the presidency.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, made the remarks in an interview with Jaji TV Hausa, where he compared his political journey with that of former United States President Abraham Lincoln. The comments were reported on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
Atiku said his age and previous defeats were not barriers to his ambition, declaring, “I am fit, healthy and full of energy, nothing can stop me.”
He recalled his earlier attempts to become governor in the area that is now Adamawa State, saying military interventions repeatedly disrupted the electoral process before he eventually secured the governorship ticket.
Historical records show that Atiku declared his intention to contest the governorship of the then Gongola State in 1990. Before the election could take place, the state was divided into Adamawa and Taraba. He subsequently won the Social Democratic Party primary in Adamawa in 1991 but was disqualified from contesting the election.
Atiku later contested the 1998 Adamawa governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party and won. Before his inauguration, however, he accepted the position of running mate to Olusegun Obasanjo. He became vice president when the civilian administration took office in May 1999.
His presidential ambitions have also produced several unsuccessful attempts. He contested the 1993 SDP presidential primary, finishing behind Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe. He later ran for president in 2007, 2019 and 2023 under different political platforms, with none resulting in victory.
The comparison with Lincoln draws on a genuine history of political setbacks. According to the US National Park Service and Library of Congress, Lincoln lost his first campaign for the Illinois General Assembly in 1832, before winning a seat in the state legislature in 1834. He later suffered unsuccessful bids for the US Senate in 1855 and 1858, before winning the presidency in 1860.
Atiku asked rhetorically: “How many times did Abraham Lincoln lose elections before he finally became President of the United States?”
The 2027 contest will place Atiku in another increasingly competitive field. His emergence under the ADC follows a period of political realignment involving opposition figures seeking a common platform ahead of the next presidential election.
Atiku’s latest declaration therefore signals that, despite repeated presidential defeats, he intends to remain an active contender. Whether that persistence translates into electoral success will ultimately depend on the ADC’s organisation, alliances, candidate field and voters’ choices when Nigerians go to the polls in 2027.