Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 presidential election may be his final attempt to become Nigeria’s leader, citing his age and the high stakes involved.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, made the remark during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday evening.

Responding to a question on whether turning 80 by 2027 would make the stakes higher for him, Atiku said it would likely be his last outing.

“Certainly yes, because the stakes are higher and I believe that will be my last outing,” he said.

Atiku has made multiple attempts to become Nigeria’s president since returning to partisan politics in 2003.

He first contested the presidency in 1993 under the Social Democratic Party primaries before stepping down for the late Moshood Abiola.

He later ran in 2007 under the Action Congress, losing to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Atiku also contested in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria, losing to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He returned to the Peoples Democratic Party and contested the 2019 presidential election, where he lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2023, he again emerged as a PDP candidate but lost to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

The former vice president has consistently positioned himself as a long-time advocate of restructuring, economic liberalisation and private sector-driven growth.

With the 2027 election cycle already shaping early political alignments, Atiku’s latest comment adds to growing speculation over the next phase of Nigeria’s presidential contest. (The PUNCH)