The national youth leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  Eze-Onyebuchi Chukwu, has called on former vice president Atiku Abubakar to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition.

He urged Mr Atiku to instead support a credible young candidate or allow President Bola Tinubu to complete a second term.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Mr Chukwu advised the former vice president to prioritise the transfer of political leadership to the younger generation, saying it was time for Nigeria’s elders to support the emergence of youthful, visionary leaders.

“Rather than aspiring to run again in 2027, Atiku should rally his political allies to support a young, credible Nigerian. It’s time to return power to the youths,” Mr Chukwu said.

Recalling his past support for Mr Atiku, Mr Chukwu noted that he had spent resources in 2019 while serving as the convener of Atikunation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), driven by the hope that Mr Atiku would champion youth empowerment.

“Atiku challenged Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, and Tinubu in 2023. Now he wants to contest again in 2027. Is he the only one fit to be president? There are capable young Nigerians who deserve a chance”.

He added that any political discourse that excludes youth representation should be rejected by Nigerian youths, stressing that the focus should be on leadership renewal and generational transition.

Mr Chukwu argued that if Mr Atiku insists on contesting at his age, it would be more pragmatic to support Mr Tinubu for a second term, provided he commits to handing over to a young leader under 50.

He cited the example of former President Buhari, who contested four times before securing victory in 2015 but, in his view, set the country back by over a decade during his tenure.

“Now Atiku appears determined to fulfil a personal ambition of becoming president at all costs. But we must ask ourselves: at what price?” he said.

Mr Chukwu said that Nigerian youths would support any leader, Mr Tinubu included, who makes a binding commitment to facilitate a generational shift in leadership by 2031.

 (NAN)