Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu is already 90 years old, saying he has evidence to support the allegation.

Atiku made the claim in an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday, August 28, 2026, while responding to questions about whether his own age could affect his ability to govern Nigeria if elected in 2027.

The ADC candidate, who would be approaching 80 at the time of the election, dismissed concerns about his age and challenged Nigerians to assess his physical condition.

He said his age should not be a barrier to contesting for the presidency, particularly when he considers himself physically fit and experienced enough to lead the country.

“You have a President who is 90 years old now and sick and I am healthy and strong. So why won’t I make myself available to serve my country?

“You went and voted for someone who is 90 years old. I have evidence that President Tinubu is 90 years old and I will present it in court,” Atiku said.

When the interviewer pointed out that Tinubu was not yet 80, Atiku responded by questioning whether he himself appeared to be approaching 80.

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

Atiku also defended his repeated attempts to become Nigeria’s president, arguing that his persistence was driven by his opposition to military rule and previous circumstances that prevented him from contesting.

He maintained that he has a constitutional right to seek the presidency and said his experience, competence and patriotism remained reasons for his continued ambition to lead the country.

On the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 election, Atiku rejected allegations that he had become an obstacle to efforts to unite opposition politicians against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, he was the politician who initiated the coalition and remains committed to the project.

“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.

He identified NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso as major opposition figures who had subsequently moved away from the coalition, but said there remained room for reconciliation.

“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.

The former vice president also criticised the Federal Government’s management of the petrol subsidy removal, demanding an account of the savings generated by the policy.

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

He alleged that the funds had not been sufficiently channelled into tackling poverty, insecurity, education and youth unemployment.

Atiku further promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected in 2027 and said those who allegedly diverted the funds should be made to refund the money.

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

On insecurity, Atiku blamed what he described as government irresponsibility, particularly in the areas of defence and policing, and pledged to tackle the crisis within one year of assuming office.

He also defended his refusal to sign a peace accord involving opposition candidates, questioning why the incumbent government was not subjected to the same process.

“Why is it always only us in the opposition that you bring to sign, but you never bring the incumbent government to sign as well?” he asked.