Atiku Dismisses Claims of Stepping Down, Accuses Foes of Scheme to Sabotage ADC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied reports of his retirement from active politics, labeling them as false and a deliberate attempt to deceive the public and undermine the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with his media aide Paul Ibe issuing a statement on Monday to address the rumors.

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The statement described the social media rumors about a meeting with ADC stakeholders, where Atiku allegedly decided to step down from politics, as "entirely false and deliberately misleading", and emphasized that no such meeting took place at the national level.

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According to the statement, Atiku's only recent engagement was with party members in Adamawa State last Thursday, and it clarified that any decision as significant as exiting politics would be formally announced through the Atiku Media Office, not through rumors or unverified sources.

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The statement further claimed that the spread of false information bears the characteristics of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at creating confusion and misleading the public, and suggested that unnamed government agents may be behind the narrative.

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The Atiku Media Office accused "anti-democratic elements" of driving the misinformation, stating that these elements are fearful of an emerging opposition movement and the growing national consensus to address the current administration's failures.

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The statement concluded by urging Atiku's supporters, ADC members, and Nigerians to disregard the false claims and remain focused on efforts to "reclaim and rebuild" the country, as the rumors are seen as an attempt to dampen the momentum of the opposition movement.