Atiku hints at 2027 presidential bid, vows to punish corrupt officials

|by Adejumo Adekunle

-Ex-VP speaks boldly in Hausa, signals move to ADC coalition
-Opposition bloc names David Mark, Aregbesola as interim leaders

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has hinted at contesting the 2027 presidential election, pledging to clamp down on corruption if given the mandate.

Atiku made the declaration in Hausa while addressing supporters in a viral video posted on X (formerly Twitter), where he swore to take decisive action against looters and corrupt officials.

“I swear to God, if elected, whoever steals or engages in any corruption-related activities, we will declare war against them and they must be punished,” he said in Hausa.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, is widely believed to have aligned with a new political coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), though he has not formally announced his defection from the PDP.

The ADC-led coalition, which aims to form a united opposition ahead of the next general election, recently named former Senate President David Mark as its Interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as Interim National Secretary.

Atiku’s fiery anti-corruption stance and quiet shift into the ADC coalition are seen as early signals of his renewed ambition, potentially setting the tone for another high-stakes presidential race in 2027.

Political observers say the move could reshape the opposition landscape, as more high-profile figures are expected to align with the coalition in the coming months.