Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports claiming he has withdrawn from active politics, describing them as false and misleading.
The reaction follows widespread social media claims alleging that Atiku met with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and decided to step aside.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former presidential candidate denied holding any such meeting or making plans to retire from politics. He accused unnamed individuals of attempting to create confusion and weaken the party’s growing momentum.
“We wish to state, for the record, that information circulating on social media about a purported meeting of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress, in which the former Vice President allegedly decided to ‘step aside and retire from active politics,’ is entirely false and deliberately misleading,” the statement said.
Atiku, who holds the traditional title of Waziri of Adamawa, clarified that he has not held any recent national-level meeting with ADC stakeholders.
“The Waziri Adamawa has not, in recent times, held any such meeting with ADC stakeholders at the national level. The only recent engagement he had was with stakeholders of the ADC in Adamawa State last Thursday,” the statement added.
He urged his supporters, party members, and Nigerians to ignore the claims and remain focused on broader political goals
“We therefore urge supporters of Atiku Abubakar, members of the ADC, and all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard this fake news in its entirety and remain focused on the collective effort to reclaim and rebuild our nation,” the statement concluded
This comes amid speculation of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso’s presidential ticket under ADC.
Kwankwaso resigned from the New Nigerian Peoples Party at the weekend and expected to join the ADC on Monday.
