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

PUNCH Online earlier reported that Atiku, in an interview with BBC Hausa, stated that he would withdraw from the race and support a younger candidate if he was defeated in the ADC primaries.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party added that he would support and mentor such a flagbearer.

“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.

The former presidential candidate, however, could not confirm whether he would contest the presidency again.

“This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following,” Atiku said.

Sani, in a post via his official X handle on Thursday, said it would be extremely difficult to defeat the former vice president in a party primary.

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.”