Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the February 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, says he will keep contesting for as long as he is alive and healthy.
He said he draws inspiration from the story of Abraham Lincoln, who contested many times before he finally became American president.
“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” Atiku said during an interview on the Hausa service of the Voice of America in Abuja.
The 77-year-old lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu in 2019 and 2023 respectively.
Atiku, who served as vice president to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, will be 81 during the next presidential election in 2027.
Despite the age factor, the former vice president said he would “keep contesting” for the topmost public office in Nigeria.
“Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning,” he said.
“However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required.”
Meanwhile, Atiku recently said that if in 2027, his party decides that it is the South-East’s turn and selects Peter Obi as its candidate, he will readily offer his support.
“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it.
“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.
“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” Atiku declared in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service.
