I Did Not Say I Was Running For President In 2027—Adesina
Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has denied any involvement in the 2027 Nigerian presidential election campaign.
According to sources, Adesina intimated in a recent interview that he planned to run for president in 2027.
However, the AfDB president has refuted the media allegations, claiming that he has never stated that he wishes to run for president.
Adesina clarified his statement on his X handle on Friday, claiming that his interview had been misconstrued and misrepresented in numerous Nigerian media sources.
Several Nigerian media sites have misconstrued and twisted a portion of my recent interview with @ARISEtv. I said the following: “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and tough interview, which is available online, will confirm this. For the record, I have not stated that I am running for President of Nigeria,” Adesina remarked.
Several Nigerian media sites have misconstrued a section of my recent interview with @ARISEtv.
I said the following: “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
Listen to the substantive.
— Akinwumi A. Adesina (@akin_adesina), February 13, 2025
It is not the first time Adesnia, whose stint as AfDB president ends in May 2025, will withdraw from Nigeria’s presidential race.
Adesina announced in a statement that he will not run for president in 2023.
“While I am deeply honoured, humbled, and grateful for all the incredible goodwill, kindness, and confidence, my current responsibilities at this time do not allow me to be considered,” the message went on to say.
“I am dedicated to accelerating Africa’s development and economic integration, as mandated by Nigeria, Africa, and the African Development Bank’s non-African shareholders.”
Adesina, who previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture under President Goodluck Jonathan, was elected president of the African Development Bank in 2015 and was reelected in 2020.