In a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially declared that the 2027 presidential election will be his last attempt at the office.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain will be 80 years of age by the time the next presidential election comes around in 2027.

Abubakar has run for the number one office six times, but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.

Abubakar said young Nigerians seeking power should learn the ropes from older leaders and gain experience first.

“I personally believe that they require experience and tutelage from the older generation,” he said.

Abubakar, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, defected to the ADC in 2025.

In 2024, Abubakar said he would “keep contesting” for the presidency as long as he is hale and hearty.

“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” Abubakar said.

The Nigerian military held a burial ceremony on Wednesday for Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, Captain Ismail, and five other soldiers who were killed in a recent insurgent attack in Borno State.

The ceremony took place at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri with full military honours, as family members and dignitaries gathered to bid them farewell.

Brig. Gen. Brimoh was killed along with other soldiers on April 9 during coordinated terrorist attacks on military positions in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway.

The ceremony was attended by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Retd.), the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu and other high-ranking officers.

The dignitaries paid glowing tributes to the deceased, describing them as “courageous and dedicated servicemen” who remained resolute in the face of danger.

Prayers were offered for the repose of the fallen heroes’ souls, while official citations recounting their service records were presented to their families.

The ceremony highlighted both the pride in their sacrifice and the profound grief of their loved ones.

The Nigerian Army, in a statement, described the burial ceremony as “solemn and emotionally charged.”

The statement read, “In a solemn and emotionally charged ceremony, the nation on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, laid to rest the late Brigadier General Omo Braimah, Captain Ismail, and other gallant soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.

“The burial, held at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri, Borno State, was marked by deep sorrow, honour, and reflection.”

It assured that the sacrifices of its personnel remain central to the country’s fight against insurgency, stressing that the legacy of its fallen heroes would “endure as a symbol of duty, courage and patriotism.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has ratified the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and expelled factional chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe and 10 others during its 8th National Convention held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The convention also adopted the revised ADC Policy and Manifesto as well as the Constitution.

The party also ratified the outcomes of its congress across the country.

At the convention, the ADC also expelled Nafiu Bala and others from the party over anti-party activities.

Their expulsion was announced at the party’s 8th National Convention held on Tuesday in Abuja.

A motion for their expulsion was moved and seconded during the convention.

The report of the party’s disciplinary committee, as read at the convention, stated: “Hon. Leke Abejide, Mr. Nafiu Bala, Odion Kennedy, Mrs. Stella Chukwuma, Johnny Derek, and Elias have been given time to retrace their actions but have failed to do so.

“Consequently, the Convention is respectfully invited to expel the above-named persons for anti-party activities.

“Pursuant to Article 92 of the Constitution of the Party, which provides that the National Convention shall have the power to suspend or expel any member of the party, exercise control, and take disciplinary action on all individuals, organs, officers, and members of the Party.”

Speaking earlier at the convention, a former House of Representatives Speaker and Senator in the 10th Senate, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said “pseudo-democrats” who had found their way to power are now manifestly exposing themselves.

He advised the judges and justices not to allow themselves to be used to destroy Nigeria, undermine the judicial system, and undermine democracy.

He underscored the need for all to work together towards a common mission of rescuing this country.

He said, “The next set of people I will appeal to are those sitting here. When we started, it was not possible. They could not come together.

“It is about unity of purpose and ambition for this country. It is not about an individual. It is about our vision and collective desire to rescue Nigeria. No sacrifice will be too great. And the ADC is that platform. We must therefore work to preserve the unity of this platform and ensure we achieve that objective.”

While speaking, another prominent chieftain of the ADC, Buba Galadima, said the party required resilience, boldness, and courage to deliver citizens from those he called “mafioso people” in government.

He said, “It is important that nobody in this country should set the pace on how our political behaviour should be. We must assert ourselves whether they like it or not.

“Secondly, I want to touch on one very important point. We have seen that the APC and its government has tried to destroy the PDP, the SDP, the NNPP, the Labour Party, and indeed the ADC.

“But what I want to remind them of is that even if there is no living human being in Nigeria and we bring a corpse in a coffin and put it against President Tinubu, I assure you that that corpse will win the election in 2027.

“So, any attempt to intimidate or to frustrate us, we must stand and say no. It is only our resilience, boldness, and courage that will deliver us from these ‘mafioso’ people in government.”

In his closing remarks, the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, said the convention marked the beginning of the party’s journey to the villa.

He said, “We are going to continue this journey.We are not going to stop anymore. We started it in good shape.

“And all of you here are part of this history. By next year, when we move to the villa, I will remind you again.”

Mark commended the planning committee’s chairman, describing the convention as organised and superior to previous conventions he attended during his political career.

He implored members to remain committed as he formally announced the convention’s closure.