^^^I do hope something similar to that plays out, SomethingWild. If Atsuko stays in for the election drive, she won't be graduating until September at earliest (6+ months), I reckon. Be great if she left, freed up the top spot, which would certainly make the election much more interesting.
But to be honest, Atsuko has been fairly invisible since I buckled down for AKB, two years ago. A vast majority of the other members are doing more things, more regularly. It'll be sad to see a long-standing member leave, but I imagine it's just gonna be business as usual.