ABUJA: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting his withdrawal from active politics, labeling the claims as a “calculated lie” designed to undermine the growing momentum of the African Democratic Congress ADC.

In a statement on Tuesday, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, dismissed allegations that the Waziri Adamawa had met with ADC stakeholders to announce he was “stepping aside.”

Shaibu explained that while Atiku recently engaged with stakeholders in Adamawa State, no such meeting occurred at the national level, nor has any decision been made to exit the political stage.

“A matter as grave and consequential as withdrawing from active politics is not, and will never be communicated through anonymous leaks, street-corner gossip, or faceless propaganda,” Shaibu stated.

He emphasized that any such decision would be “formally and unequivocally announced through the appropriate channels.”

Shaibu described the rumours as a “coordinated disinformation campaign” triggered by the evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections

He argued that the attacks are a response to Atiku’s position as a “centre of gravity” for political realignments across the country.

“In physics, gravity is never announced; it is observed. By the force of consistency, national reach, and an unwavering commitment to coalition-building, His Excellency has emerged as the centre of gravity in the unfolding 2027 political equation”, he said.

Atiku’s camp further alleged that the “false narrative” bears the fingerprints of a “desperate establishment” unsettled by a rising consensus aimed at rescuing Nigeria from “drift, dysfunction, and democratic erosion.”

Urging supporters and members of the ADC to remain steadfast, the statement declared that no amount of propaganda would halt the current movement, asserting that “the determination of Nigerians far outweighs the fear of those who have failed them.”