Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to step down from the 2027 presidential race, citing his age and health.

The former governor of Kano spoke on Monday at his residence in Abuja during a meeting with members of the Fulani Farmers Association.

Kwankwaso, who is the running mate to Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, urged Atiku to reconsider his presidential ambition and focus on his traditional title as Wazirin Adamawa.

“Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa’s house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health,” he said in Hausa.

“If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him, especially since you all come from Adamawa. An apology should be offered to him.”

Atiku has run for the presidency six times but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions in 2007, 2019 and 2023.

In April, the former vice-president, who will turn 81 next year, said the 2027 general election would be his final attempt at the presidency.

Atiku was conferred with the title of Wazirin Adamawa in June 2017 by Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, the 12th traditional ruler of the Adamawa Emirate, following the death of Muhammad Abba, the previous titleholder.

He had held the title of Turaki of Adamawa since 1982 before it was eventually passed to his son, Aliyu.

The Wazirin Adamawa is a high-ranking traditional title in the Adamawa Emirate, with the holder serving as the emir’s prime minister, most senior councillor, kingmaker and close adviser.

In 2025, the Adamawa State Government issued a directive requiring all kingmakers and traditional council members to be indigenes of the emirates or chiefdoms they represent.

The policy was said to have stripped Atiku of the Wazirin title because he hails from Jada in the Ganye Emirate.