‘Do I look 80?’ — Atiku defends age ahead of 2027 election

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has dismissed concerns about his age ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The former vice president addressed the issue during an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday.

The interviewer asked whether Atiku’s age could affect his ability to provide effective leadership for four years if elected president in 2027.

The interviewer also noted that Atiku would be close to 80 when Nigerians head to the polls and asked how he would respond to those who consider him too old for the presidency.

Atiku responded by referring to President Bola Tinubu’s age before questioning the basis of the concern.

“You went and voted for someone who is 80, I mean 90 years old. How old is President Bola, 90?” he asked.

After the interviewer corrected him and said Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku replied:

“Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”

Atiku is currently stepping up his campaign ahead of the 2027 election. He is also working to strengthen an opposition coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ADC candidate rejected claims that he had become a stumbling block to the coalition. Instead, he said he played a leading role in bringing opposition politicians together.

“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 in the coalition had remained together despite disagreements among some prominent opposition figures.

He named Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso among those who had left the group.

“It was just Kwankwaso… he was with us at first, then he left,” Atiku said.

When asked about Obi, he added: “Yes, and also Peter Obi. It’s just them, but the rest of us are still here continuing our work.”

Despite the divisions, Atiku said opposition politicians could still reach an agreement before the 2027 election.

“Nothing is impossible, by God’s grace.

“One day you’ll see… we have agreed to work together to save this country and its poor citizens, Insha Allah,” he said.

Atiku also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The former vice president questioned how the government had used the money saved from the policy.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked.

He argued that the savings should have helped reduce poverty, improve education, tackle insecurity and create more opportunities for young Nigerians.

“Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” he alleged.

Atiku further promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.

He argued that the subsidy could have been removed without causing the level of hardship Nigerians currently face if the government had properly used the savings.