‘Do I Look 80?’ — Atiku Fires Back at Age Questions Ahead of 2027

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed concerns about his age ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that he remains mentally fit to lead Nigeria.

Atiku made the remarks in an interview with BBC Hausa while responding to questions on whether his age could become a barrier to his presidential ambition.

Asked about concerns that he would be approaching 80 by the time of the 2027 election, Atiku referenced President Bola Tinubu’s age and questioned why his own age should be considered a major issue.

“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 that Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku responded, “Do I look to you like someone who has reached 80 years of age?”

The former vice-president also dismissed concerns about his capacity to govern, maintaining that his age should not be used to question his mental fitness or ambition to lead the country.

He added that he was not battling any health issues.

Atiku has made the restoration of petrol subsidy a major part of his campaign message ahead of the 2027 election.

He questioned what had happened to the funds generated since the Federal Government removed the subsidy in May 2023.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” Atiku asked, arguing that the funds were intended to reduce poverty and support children’s education.

He pledged that if elected president, he would restore the petrol subsidy and ensure that anyone found to have misappropriated subsidy-related funds would be held accountable.

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