Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and publisher, Dele Momodu, has pushed back against calls for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, describing such arguments as “unbridled chicanery.”
Momodu was reacting to comments by activist Zekeri Idris Jnr, a supporter of Peter Obi, who urged Atiku to step aside on account of his age, noting that he would be about 80 years old by 2027.
In a post shared on X on Saturday, Momodu argued that critics were misdirecting their energy by focusing on Atiku instead of holding the current government accountable.
“Instead of making videos against the ruling government, you’re dissipating energy on a man who has never wronged your preferred candidate,” he wrote.
The controversy followed a viral video in which Idris appealed to Atiku’s allies to convince him to abandon his presidential ambition and support younger aspirants.
“If he likes, let him go and bring angels from heaven as his running mate, not even Peter Obi. We won’t vote for an 80-year-old man,” Idris said.
He also suggested that Atiku should take on the role of an elder statesman by encouraging unity among younger political figures such as Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, instead of contesting.
Responding further, Momodu referenced several global leaders who held or still hold major political offices at advanced ages, including Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Muhammadu Buhari, Nelson Mandela, Nana Akufo-Addo, Hillary Clinton, and Joseph Boakai.
He argued that these figures demonstrated that age does not necessarily limit effective leadership, saying they “made good use of their age and experience for the betterment of their nations.”
“What disqualifies Alhaji Atiku Abubakar please?” Momodu asked.
Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost to President Bola Tinubu, is widely reported to be considering another run in 2027, possibly under the ADC platform.
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