Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has refuted reports linking him to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race.
Recent media speculation suggested Adesina hinted at a possible run during a recent interview.
However, he has categorically denied any such intention.
Addressing the rumours on his X handle on Thursday, Adesina clarified that his remarks had been taken out of context and misrepresented by several Nigerian media outlets.
“A segment of my recent interview on ARISE TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, ‘I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.’
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“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.
This was not the first time Adesina, whose tenure as AfDB president will conclude in May 2025, will dismiss any involvement in Nigeria’s presidential race.
Before the 2023 elections, he had already shut down similar speculations, issuing a statement to make it clear that he was not in the running.
The statement he issued read partly: “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 accept to be considered.
“I remain fully engaged and committed to the mission that Nigeria, Africa, and all the non-African shareholders of the African Development Bank have given me for Africa’s development. I remain fully focused on the mission of supporting the accelerated development and economic integration of Africa.”
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Adesina, a former Minister of Agriculture under President Goodluck Jonathan, secured his first term as AfDB president in 2015 and was re-elected for a second term in 2020.
