Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has confirmed his intention to run for the presidency in Nigeria’s 2027 election, despite the current challenges faced by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku, who has made six previous bids for the presidency over the last three decades, was the PDP candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

In that race, the 77-year-old garnered 6,984,520 votes, placing second to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 8,794,726 votes.

In a recent interview with Voice of America Hausa, when asked if he would contest again, Atiku responded, “God willing.” He expressed his determination to continue pursuing the presidency as long as he is granted “strength, health, and longevity.”

Referencing historical persistence, Atiku noted, “A former President of America, Abraham Lincoln, didn’t he vie seven times?”

Acknowledging the current state of the PDP, Atiku admitted the necessity for collaboration with other parties to reclaim power from the APC. “As the PDP party is right now, it is the only one standing up for election. There is no way it will win the election. It requires joining forces with other parties,” he stated.