Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has intensified his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming that he possesses evidence to support his allegation that the President is 90 years old.
Atiku said he would be prepared to present the material before a court if necessary, while defending his decision to contest the 2027 presidential election despite his own age and previous attempts at securing the presidency.
The former vice president made the remarks during a recent interview in which he addressed questions surrounding his decision to seek the presidency again and his assessment of Tinubu’s fitness for office.
According to reports of the interview, Atiku argued that his continued participation in presidential contests should be viewed within the context of his constitutional right to seek elective office and his belief that he remains capable of serving as president.
He also contrasted his own assessment of his health and fitness with his claims about Tinubu.
“You have a President who is 90 years old now and sick and I am healthy and strong,” Atiku said, according to the interview report.
He added that he had evidence concerning the President’s alleged age and would present it in court.
CLAIM REMAINS UNPROVEN
Atiku’s allegation represents a significant escalation in the political contest ahead of the 2027 election, but the claim about Tinubu’s age has not been independently established by the evidence publicly available from the interview.
The former vice president did not present the alleged evidence during the interview. Consequently, the assertion remains an allegation attributed to Atiku and should not be treated as an established fact.
The controversy also comes against the background of long-running political arguments over Tinubu’s age and personal records. Tinubu’s official biography gives his date of birth as March 29, 1952, which would make him 74 in 2026.
ATIKU DEFENDS ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL BID
Beyond the age controversy, Atiku defended his decision to remain in the presidential race despite having contested the presidency several times.
He argued that his previous attempts should not prevent him from seeking the office again and maintained that his political experience, health and capacity remain relevant to his ambition.
The ADC candidate has positioned the 2027 election as a contest over the direction of Nigeria and has repeatedly attacked the Tinubu administration over the economy, insecurity and governance.
His latest comments are therefore likely to add another layer to an increasingly personal and politically charged contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
For now, however, the key question surrounding the age allegation remains whether Atiku will ultimately produce the evidence he says he possesses and whether such evidence can withstand independent scrutiny.