The senator representing Anambra central, Victor Umeh, has advised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to consider stepping aside and support younger politicians as the 2027 presidential election approaches.
His comment follows Atiku’s recent statement that the 2027 race would be his final attempt at the presidency. The former vice-president also noted that younger Nigerians should gain experience under older leaders before seeking top political offices.
“I personally believe that they require experience and tutelage from the older generation,” he said.
Atiku has contested for the presidency multiple times, appearing on the ballot in 2007, 2019, and 2023.
Speaking on Monday during a television programme, Umeh, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said he had expected Atiku to begin grooming a new generation of leaders rather than pursuing another bid.
“I was thinking he would be at the point where he would be considering leaving the stage for younger people, but he said he is contesting,” Umeh said.
“So it means everything everybody has said over the past months did not resonate with him.
“And if he holds on to that ground that he cannot build the younger ones to succeed him and make him a father, then it means nobody is ready to concede an inch at all.”
Umeh warned that Atiku’s continued ambition could pose challenges for the ADC, despite acknowledging his political influence.
“He has been running since 2003. We respect him — he is a strong politician with influence. But there is a time you say, ‘I’ve done it, let me prop up others,’” he said.
He also cautioned that rivalry among opposition figures could weaken efforts to build a strong platform against the ruling party.
“If they go all out to wrestle, it may get to a point where some people will have bloody nose in the end and the thing that would suffer would be the party and this effort to bring viable platform that would contest the election against the ruling party will not make any sense,” he said.
On recent political moves, Umeh dismissed claims that Peter Obi visited Rotimi Amaechi to negotiate a step-down arrangement, describing the meeting as a normal consultation among aspirants.
“This is a season for consultations. It is normal for people aspiring for the same office to talk to each other,” he said.
“Obi’s visit was a noble one with good intentions. They were not discussing stepping down. That is a misrepresentation.”
He added that Amaechi was aware that Obi did not request him to withdraw from the race.