Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former vice president and a perennial contender for the country’s highest office, has declared that the 2027 presidential election will mark his final attempt at the presidency. The announcement came during a live session on Facebook, where the veteran politician also renewed his longstanding allegation that President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials are fraudulent.
“Whether I win or lose, 2027 will be my last time contesting for the presidency,” Atiku said, framing the decision as a definitive close to a political pursuit that has spanned decades. He has previously sought the presidency on multiple platforms, most recently as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election. His career includes a term as vice president from 1999 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, followed by a series of party switches and presidential bids.
Atiku used the session to reiterate his claim that the academic certificates presented by President Tinubu are forged. “I was the one who raised the issue surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic certificates, and I stand by my position that there was forgery,” he stated. “It is unacceptable for the President of Nigeria to have such questions surrounding his academic credentials.”
The allegations regarding Tinubu’s educational background have been a recurring feature of Nigerian political discourse since the 2023 election cycle. Atiku’s campaign previously challenged the president’s qualification in court, citing discrepancies in records from Chicago State University. The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the suit, but the former vice president has refused to retract the accusation.
Atiku’s declaration sets the stage for what is likely to be a highly competitive 2027 race. His decision to frame the next contest as his last may consolidate support among loyalists who view him as a stabilizing elder statesman, while also pressuring younger aspirants within the opposition to align behind a unified front. For the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the announcement removes a known variable from the opposition calculus, though the party faces its own internal dynamics ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The former vice president’s continued focus on Tinubu’s certificates also signals that the issue will remain a potent tool for opposition messaging, particularly among voters concerned with governance integrity. As Nigeria approaches another election season, Atiku’s final bid will test both his enduring political capital and the appetite of the electorate for a familiar face promising a conclusive chapter.
