Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has dismissed concerns about his age ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that he remains fit to lead Nigeria.
Atiku made the remark during a BBC Hausa interview after the interviewer raised concerns about his age and noted that he would be almost 80 by the time Nigerians vote in 2027.
Responding to the question, Atiku said: “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”
He also referred to President Bola Tinubu while defending himself against age-related concerns.
“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” Atiku said.
After the interviewer corrected him that Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku repeated: “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”
His comments have since triggered reactions on social media, with some Nigerians questioning his age and others defending his fitness to contest the presidency.
Reno Omokri, Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, also weighed in on the controversy by sharing an old photograph of Tinubu with media personality Dele Momodu taken in London in 1996.
Omokri wrote: “If Asiwaju is indeed 90 years old, as recently alleged, then Dele Momodu must be in his eighties.”
Atiku also addressed claims that he had become an obstacle to the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 election.
Rejecting the allegation, the former vice president insisted that he was the person who initiated the coalition.
“That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else. I, Atiku Abubakar, started it.”
The remarks have continued to generate debate among Nigerians as political parties and opposition figures position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
@Sa’eed Adeshola Salako: “Omo Fear Politician Ooo Atiku Ehn God Abeg 😂”
@Ralph Ayegba: “The prince of dubia wld soon go back after election to recuperate, 70 years old man”
@Anowa Kachy: “Please rest sir”
@Hakim Wisdom: “Must u rule Nigeria?”
@Amadi Osaa: “You are fit,is Tinubu not hundred or more?”
@Olaide Adegbemi: “No, you be under 18”
@Adegboyega A. Adeleke: “Body go tell you.”
@Lo Veth: “This man’s desperation is scary”
@Rotimi Essential: “Yes daddy”
@Obinna King: “Sweet sixteen”
@Prince Collins: “inukwanu atiku”
