Akinwumi Adesina, the outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has refuted recent media reports suggesting his intention to run for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
These speculations emerged following an interview he granted to Arise TV, where his comments were interpreted by some as indicative of political ambitions.
During the interview, when questioned about his future plans post-AfDB tenure, Adesina stated, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere—including in my own country, Nigeria.” This remark led to widespread conjecture that he was hinting at a potential presidential bid in the upcoming 2027 elections.
In response to the ensuing media frenzy, Adesina took to X (Formerly Twitter) on Thursday, February 13, 2025, to clarify his position.
He expressed concern over the misinterpretation of his words, stating, “A segment of my recent interview on @ARISEtv 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.'” He further emphasized, “For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria.”
This isn’t the first instance where Adesina has been linked to Nigeria’s presidential race. Prior to the 2023 elections, in May 2022, a support group reportedly purchased and submitted the N100 million Presidential nomination form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on his behalf.
At that time, Adesina dismissed the speculation, citing his commitments at the AfDB as reasons for not engaging in the nation’s presidential contest.
