Atiku Defends Age Ahead of 2027 Election, Says ‘Do I Look Like Someone Who Is 80?’

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pushed back against concerns over his age ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, challenging critics to judge him by his appearance and ability to lead.

Atiku made the remarks in a BBC Hausa interview published on Friday while responding to questions about whether his age could affect his capacity to provide effective leadership for a four-year presidential term. The interviewer pointed out that he would be nearly 80 by the time Nigerians vote in 2027.

Atiku responded by referring to President Bola Tinubu’s age before asking: “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?” He had initially mistakenly described Tinubu as being 90, before the interviewer corrected him.

The exchange comes as Atiku steps up efforts to build an opposition platform ahead of the 2027 election. He rejected claims that he has become a stumbling block to the opposition coalition, insisting that he was the politician who initiated the alliance aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“That is a baseless accusation levelled against me. I was actually the one who initiated the coalition. Nobody else… I, Atiku Abubakar, started it,” he said. Atiku said most of the politicians involved remained committed to the coalition despite disagreements, while identifying Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso as major figures who had moved away from the group.

The ADC candidate nevertheless left the door open for a possible opposition realignment before 2027. “Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace,” he said, expressing hope that politicians could eventually agree to work together to “save this country and its poor citizens”.

Atiku also attacked the Federal Government’s handling of the petrol subsidy removal, asking what had happened to the money saved through the policy. He argued that the funds should have been used to tackle poverty, improve education, address insecurity and create opportunities for young Nigerians.

“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” Atiku said. He maintained that subsidy removal could have been implemented without causing the level of hardship Nigerians are experiencing if the savings had been properly managed.