Atiku’s Aide Dismisses Viral Video on 2027 Presidential Ambition

Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has refuted claims suggesting that Atiku is gearing up for another run in the 2027 presidential election.

This clarification follows the circulation of a viral video on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), in which Atiku is reportedly heard mentioning plans to make a “formal announcement” about his political future. Many commentators interpreted the footage as confirmation of his intention to contest again.

In a statement released on Friday, Ibe described the claims as misleading, explaining that the video was not recent but dated back to 2022, just before the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary for the 2023 elections.

“The video being shared is old and is being circulated deliberately to mislead the public,” Ibe said. “It features former Vice President Atiku Abubakar speaking to journalists in 2022, ahead of the PDP primaries for the 2023 elections.”

He noted that the confident tone Atiku used in the video was typical of any serious contender preparing for a significant political race.

“Atiku spoke with confidence because he had invested effort into the campaign and was hopeful about winning the party’s nomination for the 2023 election,” Ibe added.