Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he would step aside for a younger aspirant if he loses the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday. He said it is still too early to confirm his participation in the 2027 race, stressing that his current focus is on uniting the opposition under the ADC.

“This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following. If I run for office and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women,” Atiku said.

The former vice president also dismissed speculations that he might play a double role between the ADC and the PDP, insisting: “No, I’m not known for that. If I say I am going one way, I will go that way.”

Atiku, 78, resigned from the PDP in July, citing irreconcilable differences and a deviation from the party’s founding principles. In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of PDP Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, he formally terminated his membership.

“I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for. It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged,” he wrote.