The All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed a heavy defeat for the 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, should he decide to contest in the 2027 presidential election.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated this in a Wednesday interview, The Punch reported.
A spokesman for Atiku, Daniel Bwala, had on Tuesday night confirmed his principal’s readiness to vie for the 2027 presidency, praising the former Vice President’s capacity, wisdom and readiness for the job.
Bwala, who appeared on a Channels TV programme on Tuesday night, was asked if the 77-year-old Atiku would take another shot at the presidency come 2027.
Responding, he said, “Sure, he would run. He has the capacity, he has the wisdom, he has the knowledge, he has the energy.
“And he is a president we never had. Because to be honest with you, if any politician understands the private sector very well, it is Atiku Abubakar and our economy can only come alive if there is a private sector-led economy. He’s the president the country is missing because of his experience and capacity.’’
The Herald can report that 2023 was Atiku’s sixth failed attempt to become president. He previously contested in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.
Reacting, the APC Director of Publicity said Atiku did not stand a chance against the ruling party’s candidate.
“Our party, which is the All Progressive Congress, thrashed Atiku not once, not twice. Even when we thought he had the energy and little credibility to make him viable to Nigerians, we defeated him completely.
“How can someone who is just trying to regain his balance be a threat to the APC come 2027? That is unthinkable; Atiku can never be a threat to the APC. He wasn’t a threat when he had little value. How can he be a threat when he is already valueless? It’s a dream that will not come to pass,’’ Ibrahim said.
He said it was high time Atiku quit partisan politics.
“Atiku should better forget about politics completely. I think this is the imagination of Bwala and a few others around him. And it only goes to tell you that Atiku is surrounded by people who mislead him because anybody who has real feelings and concern for Atiku will not advise him to run against Tinubu again; not in the far future.
“This is not an issue of concern to the APC at all. Atiku is not a force to reckon with. He has never been a force to reckon with and he cannot be in 2027 when he must have diminished in terms of political value. We have not gotten to the bridge, but when we get there we will cross it,” he said.