BREAKING: Hamza Al-Mustapha Declares Presidential Ambition for 2027, Says ‘This Time I’m Serious’

Retired Major Hamza Al-Mustapha has officially declared his intention to run for president in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections — and this time, he insists, it’s no longer a trial run.

The former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, made the bold announcement during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, where he addressed key issues plaguing Nigeria’s democracy.

Al-Mustapha, who has remained a controversial figure since the return of democratic rule in 1999, stated that his decision to run for the presidency is driven by the deepening poverty, rising insecurity, and what he describes as a “gross mismanagement of the nation's potential.”

In the interview, he said, “I am not coming out to joke. Nigeria is bleeding, and I am stepping forward to stop the hemorrhage.”

He also revisited his years in power during the military regime, reflecting on his controversial role under General Sani Abacha.

While many still associate his name with dark tales of the era, Al-Mustapha insists his involvement was misrepresented and that history will judge him differently.

He claimed that his experience in both military intelligence and national security puts him in a better position to “rescue Nigeria from its current downward spiral.”

This announcement signals Al-Mustapha's second official attempt at clinching the country’s top job. His first run in 2019 under the Green Party of Nigeria failed to make significant impact at the polls.

However, this time, the retired major is projecting confidence, vowing to build a broad coalition that reflects Nigeria’s diversity.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, Al-Mustapha’s entry into the race promises to stir debate, especially among those who remember his powerful and feared presence in the corridors of power during one of Nigeria’s most turbulent military regimes.