The National Vice Chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Garba Muhammad, has cautioned former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and ex-governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, to tread softly ahead of the 2027 general election.

Muhammad, who hails from Kaduna State and served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Sabon Gari federal constituency for 16 years, had in an open letter, told Atiku to “perish the thought of another presidential contest” and remain the statesman he was, noting that he had been contesting for the presidency since 1993.

Muhammad said: “As we approach the next general elections, you are at it again. However, this time around, having sensed that your party, the PDP, may not cede the presidential ticket to you, you are now considering joining forces with some aggrieved politicians to form a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
“For you, Alhaji Atiku, our former vice president, my free-hearted advice is, in your best interest and the interest of Nigerians, it is better you drop the idea of contesting for president in 2027, by which time you would have already turned 80 years.

“The Wazirin Adamawa, you should rather remain the elder statesman that you currently are. Methinks you shouldn’t waste your time and resources. At least, you should take your cue from another former Vice President, Arc. Muhammad Namadi Sambo, who has been operating in the background and remains an elder statesman since he left office in 2015.”

Muhammad said Atiku should not listen to some politicians, such as former Kaduna governor, El-rufai who “are dangling the carrot of a coalition” to him ahead of 2027.

“In truth, even if you contest, you have nothing new to offer. Remember, you are also a proponent of subsidy removal. It is on record that, as vice president, you spearheaded the privatisation of some key national assets when you chaired the committee on privatisation during Obasanjo’s administration, while former Governor El-rufai was the Director General of the Bureau for Public Privatization, BPP.”

To el-rufai, the APC chieftain, who is also the chairman of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Governing Board, he urged the former Kaduna State governor to reconcile with the APC since he was a founding member of the party who toiled to see its success.

The former lawmaker said: “It is on record that you were part of the founding members of the APC. Having worked for the party tirelessly and served as governor under its platform for eight years, it is rather worrisome that you decided to leave APC at this critical point.

“While still serving as governor in 2022, during one of your media chats, you averred that “the moment I leave APC, then I have quit politics altogether.” At this critical point, you should ponder and reconcile with the APC or quit politics altogether.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/2027-tread-softly-perish-your-presidential-ambitions-apc-cautions-atiku-el-rufai/