A member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Muhammed Basil, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from partisan politics and instead play a national elder statesman role.
Basil, who represents Jada, Ganye, Toungo and Mayo Belwa Federal Constituency in Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke about the issue in a telephone interview from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
His comments came about two weeks after one of Atiku’s sons, Abba Atiku, publicly declared support for Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Basil said Atiku, a long-time political figure and former vice president of Africa’s most populous country, should now step aside to allow younger leaders to take the front seat. He argued that Atiku’s experience would be more useful as guidance for the next generation than as an active party politician.
According to the lawmaker, many of the political allies Atiku once worked closely with have left the scene or moved on, and he described that shift as a signal that the former vice president should consider exiting active contest politics while his reputation remains strong. He added that leaving at a time of public respect could help protect Atiku’s legacy.
Basil also linked his view to age and the changing nature of political influence, saying there are moments in life when it becomes more honourable to take on an advisory role than to remain in the centre of party competition.
He also spoke about political mobilisation and grassroots work ahead of elections, warning that media visibility does not always translate into real political strength on election day. In his words, “Politics is not practised on the pages of newspapers or only in the media,” as he criticised those who talk regularly in public but are not visible in their constituencies during elections.
On the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, Basil said the party remained dominant in the state and did not face any serious challenger.
Meanwhile, Abba Atiku recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party. He received his membership card at Gwadabawa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State.
Abba said he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support what he described as the economic and human reforms of the Tinubu administration. He also insisted that no person or political party could stop President Tinubu from returning to Aso Rock, the official seat of Nigeria’s presidency in Abuja, in 2027. He praised the president’s approach to governance, saying Tinubu was not driven by ethnicity or religion in appointments, but by merit.
He further said his decision was influenced by what he described as wide human and infrastructure development under the current administration, and he called on supporters to mobilise people beyond party loyalties to back the president.
Another son of the former vice president, Adamu Atiku, has remained in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and currently serves as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development under Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Atiku Abubakar is currently a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with none of his sons reportedly involved in the party.