Harder to Beat Atiku in Primaries Than for Camel to Pass Needle’s Eye – Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has reacted to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s comment that he would step aside from the 2027 presidential race if a younger aspirant defeats him in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries.

Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa earlier this week, had said he was ready to withdraw and support a younger candidate if he was defeated in the party’s primaries.

“If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women,” Atiku had said, while adding that his current priority was to help the ADC build strong structures across the country.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party also promised to mentor any successful youthful flagbearer.

Responding to Atiku’s statement on Thursday via his official X handle, Senator Sani argued that unseating the former vice president in a party primary would be an uphill task.

He wrote: “His Excellency the Waziri reportedly said he would step aside if a younger candidate wins the primaries… The keyword here is PRIMARIES… It’s easier for a camel to pass through the hole of a needle than to beat the Waziri in primaries. Party delegates are a special breed of people.”

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Sani’s remark highlights the dominance of party delegates in Nigeria’s internal electoral processes, where aspirants often rely on delegate votes to secure tickets. His comment suggests Atiku’s longstanding influence and network could give him an advantage, despite his promise to support youth participation.