Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reignited his presidential ambition with a promise to prioritize women and youth in governance while vowing a fierce crackdown on corruption if elected president in 2027.
In a widely circulated video that surfaced on social media over the weekend, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate pledged to allocate the majority of cabinet appointments to young people and women. “Seventy percent of our appointments will go to youths and women,” Atiku declared.
He also made strong remarks on tackling corruption, describing it as the root cause of Nigeria’s underdevelopment. “I swear to God, if elected, whoever engages in corruption will face the full wrath of the law. We will declare total war on them,” Atiku said. “Nigeria is not moving forward because a handful of corrupt individuals are holding the country back.”
The remarks come amid renewed political maneuvering by opposition figures seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the next election. A newly formed coalition of opposition politicians, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and ex-Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political vehicle for the 2027 race. Both Obi and Amaechi have promised to serve only one term if elected.
Atiku’s renewed stance on corruption is drawing both attention and skepticism. Though he positions himself as an anti-graft crusader, his political history includes past allegations and controversies. In the 2000s, Atiku was linked to a broadband contract scandal during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, a controversy that ensnared U.S. congressman William Jefferson, who was eventually convicted of bribery. While Jefferson was jailed, Atiku was never formally charged.
An earlier audio recording also surfaced years ago in which Atiku reportedly discussed how shell companies were allegedly used to divert public funds further fuelling criticism over his credibility on the issue of corruption.
Despite these clouds, Atiku remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent political figures. His presidential quest has spanned over three decades and six different election cycles. His first bid was in 1993 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He ran again in 2007 under the Action Congress (AC), losing to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP.
In 2011, he returned to the PDP to challenge then-President Goodluck Jonathan in the party primaries but lost. After decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, he failed to clinch the presidential ticket, which went to Muhammadu Buhari. By 2017, he was back in the PDP, contesting and losing the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections to Buhari and Tinubu, respectively.
Now setting his sights on 2027, Atiku is repositioning himself as a reformist with renewed promises to tackle Nigeria’s chronic governance issues through inclusive appointments and a hard stance on corruption.
Whether voters will embrace his message or remain skeptical in light of past controversies remains to be seen.
