Nigeria, July 9 -- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denied reports suggesting he was asked to step down for a southern presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the claim as "a malicious fabrication" and "propaganda" allegedly orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued Tuesday by his media office in Abuja, Atiku dismissed the report of a purported meeting where he was said to have rejected calls to withdraw from the race in favour of a southern aspirant. He said no such meeting took place and insisted he had never been approached with such a proposal.

"There was no such meeting. Atiku Abubakar was never in attendance. The entire story is a malicious fabrication...