Atiku denies rumours of political retirement, labels reports “fake news”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting he plans to “step aside and retire from active politics” as “fake news.”

In a statement issued Monday by the Atiku Media Office, the Waziri Adamawa said that a matter as consequential as exiting active politics “cannot, and would never, be communicated through rumours, faceless sources, or third-party fabrication.”

He emphasised that any decision of such magnitude would be formally announced through his media office. According to the statement, the false reports display “all the hallmarks of a coordinated disinformation campaign” intended to mislead the public, create confusion, and undermine political momentum.

The statement further alleged that anti-democratic actors, allegedly fearful of growing public support for efforts to “rescue Nigeria from the failures of the current administration,” were behind the misinformation.

Atiku’s media office urged his supporters, ADC members, and the Nigerian public to disregard the reports and remain focused on collective efforts to strengthen the nation.

The office clarified that the former Vice President had not held any recent meetings with ADC stakeholders at the national level. His only recent engagement with the party occurred in Adamawa State last Thursday.

“This information circulating on social media about a purported meeting where Atiku allegedly decided to retire is entirely false and deliberately misleading,” the statement concluded.