No plan to retire from politics – Atiku breaks silence

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed reports claiming he has retired from active politics, describing them as false and part of a coordinated effort to mislead the public and weaken the momentum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku clarified that rumours circulating on social media about a supposed meeting with ADC stakeholders—where he allegedly decided to step aside from politics—were “entirely false and deliberately misleading.”

The statement noted that the former presidential candidate had not held any recent national-level meetings with ADC stakeholders, adding that his only recent engagement was with party members in Adamawa State last Thursday.

It reads in part:
“An issue as fundamental and consequential as exiting active politics cannot, and would never, be communicated through rumours, faceless sources, or third-party fabrications. Any such decision, if ever taken, would be formally announced through the Atiku Media Office.”

The statement further alleged that unnamed government agents may have sponsored the narrative, suggesting the development reflects fear of a growing opposition movement.

“We state without equivocation that this mischief is being driven by anti-democratic elements who are deeply unsettled by the growing national consensus to rescue Nigeria from the failures of the current administration,” it added.

Atiku’s media office urged supporters, ADC members, and Nigerians to disregard the claims and remain focused on efforts to “reclaim and rebuild” the country.