18th May, 2024
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has said the only reason he will not contest the 2027 presidential election is if the PDP zoned the presidency to the South.
He said he contested the 2023 presidency because the option of zoning was left open by the PDP.
Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, said he had repeatedly that if the PDP decided to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, he would not contest it.
According to him, “As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.”
He added that if the party decided that it was the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, he would not hesitate to support him.
Atiku stated that the party’s members would determine his destiny in the general elections of 2027 and that a merger between the PDP and Labour Party was a possibility.
On the meeting with Obi, Atiku said it was just a normal friendly meeting “that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.”