The Presidency has hit back at former vice-president Atiku Abubakar over his claim that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old and ill, describing the former vice-president as a desperate politician allegedly “under the spell of marabouts.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, made the remarks on Friday while reacting to Atiku’s comments during an interview with the BBC.

Atiku, who is seeking the presidency in the 2027 election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had dismissed concerns about his own age, saying he remained healthy and capable of governing Nigeria.

In defending his decision to contest despite approaching 80 by the time of the election, Atiku said, “You have a President who is 90 years old now and sick. I am healthy; I am strong. So why would I not make my services available to my fellow countrymen?”

When asked to substantiate the claim about Tinubu’s age, Atiku said he had evidence and would present it in court.

“I have evidence that he is (90), and I will present it in court,” he said.

Reacting, however, Ajayi described the statement as “the last kick of a dying horse,” accusing Atiku of making personal attacks against Tinubu because of what he called desperation to become president.

“For former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, this is the last kick of a dying horse. He will stop at nothing in his desperation for the presidency of Nigeria. He is racing against time in his quest for the fulfilment of his marabouts’ prophecy,” Ajayi said.

The presidential aide accused the former vice-president of abandoning issue-based campaigning for attacks centred on Tinubu’s personal life.

According to him, Atiku’s alleged fixation on the President’s age and health showed the desperation surrounding his 2027 ambition.

“We are at a loss as to why a man who said he wants to run his campaign on issues that affect the lives of Nigerians has reduced his chance of ever realising his elusive ambition to the personal life of President Tinubu,” Ajayi said.

He further dismissed Atiku’s claim about Tinubu’s age as ridiculous, arguing that the President’s publicly stated date of birth is March 29, 1952, which puts his age at 74.

“It is ridiculous to claim President Tinubu is 90 years old. Alhaji Atiku wakes up every day to just say whatever comes to his mouth with the hope that his failing campaign will gain traction,” he said.

Ajayi also linked Atiku’s recent comments to his position on fuel subsidy, accusing him of making inconsistent policy proposals after failing to convince Nigerians about his plan to restore the subsidy.

He said Atiku’s personal attacks on Tinubu were an attempt to remain politically relevant and keep his campaign in the news.

The presidential aide also challenged Atiku to take his allegation about Tinubu’s age to court and provide the evidence he claimed to possess.

“Let him go to court to present the evidence that President Tinubu is 90 years old,” Ajayi said, adding that Atiku had previously failed in legal challenges against Tinubu in Nigeria and the United States during the last election cycle.

“He has failed everywhere against President Tinubu, moving from court to court. He failed in his numerous court cases against President Tinubu in the United States and Nigeria in the last election cycle. He will fail again this time around,” he added.

Atiku’s allegation has introduced another personal dimension into the increasingly heated political contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the former vice-president yet to publicly disclose the evidence he said supports his claim about Tinubu’s age.

Tinubu’s official records publicly put his date of birth at March 29, 1952, meaning he is currently 74 years old.