Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied claims that he was asked to step down for a southern presidential candidate in the race for the 2027 ticket.

Speaking in a statement released on Tuesday, Atiku called the claim “a malicious fabrication” and “propaganda” allegedly orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He further stated that he was not in any meeting where he rejected calls to withdraw from the presidential race in favour of a southerner.

“There was no such meeting. Atiku Abubakar was never in attendance. The entire story is a malicious fabrication — pure fiction cooked up in the propaganda kitchens of the Tinubu-led APC regime.

“This is nothing but a diversionary tactic — an attempt by a faltering administration to sow discord within the opposition and derail the momentum gained by the successful unveiling of the ADC.

“We want to remind the ruling party that Nigerians have already embraced the ADC as the most credible and viable opposition platform ahead of 2027.

“The massive and growing support the ADC continues to enjoy across the country is a clear signal that the Tinubu administration is living on borrowed time,” the statement reads. (Daily Sun)