Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress will emerge through the consensus option.

This is just as he stated that the 2027 presidential election will mark the final chapter of his long political career, stating unequivocally that he will not seek office beyond the next election cycle.

The ex-vice president also expressed willingness to support whoever emerges as the winner of the African Democratic Congress presidential primaries later in the year.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE TV on Wednesday, Atiku said, “The first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t work out, then we will go for primary elections. But I will support anybody who emerges.”

The ADC chieftain hinted at his willingness to step aside if another candidate emerges through a consensus or electoral process within the coalition.

“I will step aside for any winner,” he said, adding when asked specifically about Peter Obi, “Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”

Responding to a question on whether he would quit the political stage after 2027, he said, “Certainly yes, the stakes are higher because I believe that will be my last outing.”

When pressed to confirm the finality of his decision, he responded firmly, “That’s incontrovertible.”

The former vice president, who has been a central figure in Nigeria’s politics for decades, acknowledged that convincing Nigerians to back his candidacy again remained the immediate task before him.

Responding to concerns that he represents the past rather than the future, Atiku argued that his experience remained relevant, saying, “I represent both the past and the future.”

He added that while younger leaders have had opportunities in governance, their performance has not fully met the people’s expectations.

“We have seen various levels of leadership in the country, both young and old, and we’re experiencing them. And I still believe that our expectations of the young leadership are below what we thought,” he said.

Atiku stressed the importance of experience in leadership, drawing from his time serving under former President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007).

According to him, “What I was able to learn from President Obasanjo through his experience, I couldn’t have learned it outside.”

He maintained that younger political leaders require mentorship and exposure to governance to succeed, insisting that “Young men also require experience to be able to succeed.”

During the interview, Atiku also criticised the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing its performance as disappointing.

“Bola has been a very bad President, to be honest with you. In the way he governs the country, whether economically or otherwise, it’s a disappointment,” he said.

He expressed concern about the state of democratic institutions, warning against the concentration of power.

“We have seen how, virtually, you know, the presidency has almost turned the various institutions that are supposed to be checks and balances, under one roof, which is quite dangerous,” he said.

The Waziri Adamawa revealed that he is a key driver of a broad political coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, noting that alliances are necessary for electoral success in Nigeria.

“I am one of the initiators of this coalition, or perhaps the leading initiator of the coalition,” he said.

He explained that his position was informed by historical trends.

“I studied the political history of Nigeria; the only future is a broad coalition,” he added.

Atiku added that the emerging alliance cuts across major political blocs, stating, “You have elements from APC, from PDP, from NNPP, from Labour. So that makes it a much broader coalition.”

Atiku also reaffirmed confidence in his traditional political base in Northern Nigeria, declaring, “The North still remains my major political base.”

On constitutional reforms, he advocated formalising zoning in Nigeria’s constitution to ensure fairness in power rotation.

“Even if it is the only amendment I can make, I will move towards that,” he said.

Despite his continued ambition, Atiku acknowledged that 2027 would be his last attempt at the Presidency, leaving the future to a new generation of leaders.

“That’s left to the next generation to take it on,” he noted.

His declaration sets the stage for what could be a defining and final political battle in 2027, as he seeks to secure the presidency after multiple previous attempts.

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There have been fresh calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election amid ongoing realignments within opposition parties.

Jonathan served as Vice President to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua from 2007 until Yar’Adua’s death in May 2010, after which he was sworn in as President.

He subsequently won the 2011 presidential election but lost his re-election bid in 2015 to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since leaving office, Jonathan has gained international recognition for conceding defeat in 2015 and ensuring a peaceful transfer of power.

Amid the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party and reported efforts by opposition figures to court him, questions have emerged over his eligibility to contest again.

However, some legal experts argue that provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) may prevent him from seeking another term.

PUNCH Online reviewed relevant provisions of the Constitution that have been central to the debate.

Section 137(3) of the Constitution, introduced by the Fourth Alteration in 2017, states that “a person who was sworn-in as President to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”

However, Section 137(3) was enacted in 2017, after Jonathan had left office, raising questions about whether the provision can be applied retroactively.

A similar provision is contained in Section 182(3) of the Constitution, which applies to governors.

Section 182(3) states that “a person who was sworn-in as governor to complete the term for which another person was elected as governor shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”

The issue has drawn renewed attention following a recent Federal High Court ruling in Akure, Ondo State, which held that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa would be ineligible to seek another term beyond the constitutional limit.

Aiyedatiwa, who was sworn in to complete the tenure of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in December 2023, was later elected in November 2024 and inaugurated in February 2025.

In the suit filed by an APC member, Akin Egbuwalo, the court was asked to interpret constitutional provisions relating to tenure limits.

The court held that no elected executive can remain in office beyond the constitutionally permitted period, relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Marwa v. Nyako.

The ruling has been cited by some analysts as reinforcing the argument that individuals who complete a predecessor’s tenure and subsequently win election may not exceed the constitutional limit.

However, legal opinions remain divided on whether the same interpretation applies to Jonathan, particularly given that the relevant constitutional amendment came after his tenure.

The Aiyedatiwa ruling suggests Jonathan cannot contest again since the constitutional principle is the same.

But many politicians and experts have historically contested this interpretation, and it may likely require a fresh court ruling to settle definitively.

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The Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Enugu Depot Community, in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, Chinedu Anyaso, has vowed to use legislative means in the National Assembly to ensure Nnewi is granted a special status, if elected to represent the Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Anyaso, who is eyeing the House of Reps seat under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, also promised to provide effective representation for the people of the area if he gets the party’s ticket to contest the election.

He made this known while speaking to journalists at the Ekwusigo Local Government Area headquarters in Ozubulu over the weekend, adding that Nnewi should be granted a special status as it is the industrial city of Anambra, the South-East and Nigeria, having vast presence of manufacturing companies and industries.

According to him, over the years, there have been “unfruitful” agitations for special status for the city, being one of the Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, noting that doing so would revive its economic fortunes, prospects and potential as well as create more opportunities for the teeming youths.

He explained that his ambition was informed primarily by the poor representation the Constituency has had over the years in spite of the increasing development and existential challenges of the people.

He also added that the constituency deserves strong and effective representation in the National Assembly in order to attract the needed federal attention to the ecological and infrastructure challenges that fall within its remit.

He said, “I will partner with the state government under the able leadership of the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and my other nationwide connections as IPMAN chairman to achieve it.

“Nnewi deserves a special status being one among Nigeria”s industrial cities with many manufacturing companies and a huge population.

“Resources in the city can no longer cater to its huge population from different tribes, regions and the pressure on social amenities. Nnewi has been so critical to the economic development of the South-East and Nigeria and therefore, it deserves a special attention to maintain it status quo.”

The IPMAN chairman hailed Soludo for the transformative leadership across the state and the constituency in particular, but noted that the tasks were enormous for the state alone.

Anyaso urged APGA leaders in the constituency to support his aspiration and trust him with the ticket, adding that he had the capacity to achieve victory for the party in the 2027 general elections.