Atiku Abubakar Denies Political Retirement, Calls Claims False and Misleading
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has firmly dismissed circulating claims that he has stepped aside and retired from active politics. In a statement released on Monday, his media office described the allegations as entirely false and deliberately misleading, urging the public to disregard them.
False Social Media Claims Debunked
According to the Atiku Media Office, the claim that Atiku announced his retirement during a meeting with stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is baseless. The media team clarified that Atiku has not held any such meeting with ADC stakeholders at the national level in recent times. The only recent engagement noted was with ADC stakeholders in Adamawa State last Thursday, which did not involve any retirement announcement.
The statement emphasized: "An issue as fundamental and consequential as exiting active politics cannot, and would never, be communicated through rumours, faceless sources, or third-party fabrication. Such a decision, if ever taken, would be formally conveyed through the Atiku Media Office."
Alleged Disinformation Campaign
The media office accused unnamed parties of orchestrating a coordinated disinformation campaign. They stated that this falsehood bears all the hallmarks of a scheme designed to create confusion, dampen momentum, and mislead the Nigerian public. Without naming specific entities, the office suggested that only the government and its agents could have sponsored this "desperate narrative out of fear of what is coming."
It further asserted: "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."
Call to Action for Supporters
In response to the false claims, the Atiku Media Office urged supporters of Atiku Abubakar, members of the ADC, and all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard this fake news entirely. They called for continued focus on the collective effort to reclaim and rebuild the nation, reinforcing Atiku's ongoing commitment to political engagement.
The statement concluded by reiterating that Atiku remains active in politics and has no plans to retire, dismissing the rumors as part of a broader attempt to undermine democratic processes in Nigeria.
