Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims that he is set to retire from active politics, describing the reports as “false, misleading and politically motivated.”
In a statement issued on Monday through his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former presidential candidate said rumours circulating on social media about his alleged decision to step aside after a meeting with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress were fabricated.
He warned that the development was part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at weakening the rising influence of the opposition bloc.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the report claiming that Atiku Abubakar met with ADC stakeholders and resolved to retire from politics is entirely false,” the statement said.
Atiku clarified that he had not held any recent national-level meeting with leaders of the ADC, noting that his only engagement with the party was at the state level in Adamawa last week.
The Waziri of Adamawa stressed that any decision as significant as quitting politics would be formally communicated through official channels and not through anonymous sources or social media speculation.
“An issue as fundamental as exiting active politics cannot and will never be conveyed through rumours or faceless platforms. Such a decision, if ever taken, will be formally announced by the Atiku Media Office,” he added.
The former vice president further alleged that those behind the narrative were “anti-democratic elements” unsettled by the growing political alignment ahead of future elections.
He said the intent of the misinformation was to “create confusion, dampen momentum, and mislead Nigerians” at a time when opposition forces were gaining traction.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last general election, urged his supporters and party faithful to disregard the reports and remain focused.
He also accused unnamed forces within the political establishment of sponsoring the narrative out of fear of a shifting political landscape.
“We call on Nigerians to ignore this desperate falsehood and remain committed to the collective mission of rebuilding the country,” the statement added.
The denial comes amid heightened political realignments and growing speculation over alliances ahead of the next election cycle.
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