Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been urged to shelve his ambition to contest in the 2027 presidential election.
The president of the National Political Science Association of Nigeria (NPSA), Prof. Hassan Saliu, has accused him of stifling the growth of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of his ambition.
Atiku was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, and there are indications that he will contest again in the 2027 polls.
Speaking to Punch, Prof Saliu said, “Atiku’s ambition is affecting the growth of the PDP. We follow the debate and the controversy.
“The issues in the PDP before the presidential primary, and even after the presidential primaries, those issues are still there. They have not faded away.
“So, the only way to give PDP a semblance of unity is for Atiku to drop his ambition. There are too many issues surrounding Atiku’s ambition.
“Given his age, if he comes out to contest for president under the PDP next time, I don’t know what will happen to the PDP before that time. But I am assuming that decision may not go down with people at PDP. It is time for Atiku to look at the political temperature and advises himself accordingly.
“Atiku’s interest will not supersede the interests of the PDP; each time this man emerges as a presidential candidate, there are always issues that will eventually affect the chances of the party. This is the right time for Atiku to allow the PDP to breathe fresh air.”
