The National Vice Chairman, North West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Hon. Garba Datti, has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to perish the thought of another presidential contest in the 2027 elections.

He also appealed to the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-rufai, to reconcile with and return to the ruling party.

Datti, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, made the call in an open letter addressed to the duo in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said having been contesting since 1993, Atiku should remain a statesman rather than wasting his time and resources to contest again in 2027.

The APC chieftain, who represented Hon. Datti, who served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State for 16 years urged Atiku and El-Rufai to tread softly ahead of the 2027 elections.

Datti said Atiku should take a cue from another former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who has been operating in the background and remained an elder statesman since he left office in 2015.

?As we approach the next general election, 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 Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.

?For you, Alhaji Atiku, our former Vice President, my freehearted 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.

Datti also urged Atiku not to listen to some politicians likeEl-Rufai, who are dangling the carrot of a coalition to him ahead of 2027.

The former lawmaker further counseled El-Rufai to reconcile with the APC as he was a founding member of the party who toiled to see its success.

He noted that, ?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.?

Datti recalled that when El-Rufai was still serving as governor in 2022, during one of his media chats, he said, ?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.

?The world knows that it was you who announced that you were not interested in any position in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

?Why should you turn to a critic overnight just because you perceived things were not going your way when you had unfettered access to the leadership of the party and the President??

?As someone who was once close to you, I want to advise you to refrain from using emotions, sentiments, and unsubstantiated claims/allegations in politics.? (ARISE NEWS)

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