The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has refuted claims linking him to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
Recent reports suggested that Adesina had hinted at his interest in running for the presidency during a recent interview.
However, the AfDB president has dismissed these claims, stating that his words were taken out of context.
In a post on his X handle on Friday, Adesina clarified that the media misinterpreted his remarks.
“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.’
“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 stated.
This is not the first time Adesina has distanced himself from speculation about Nigeria’s presidency.
As his tenure at the AfDB approaches its conclusion in May 2025, similar rumors have surfaced once again.
Before the 2023 elections, there was widespread speculation about his candidacy, prompting him to issue a statement denying any interest.
“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,” he said at the time.
“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.”
Adesina, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture under President Goodluck Jonathan, was first elected as AfDB president in 2015 and secured reelection in 2020.
