African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dele Momodu has strongly defended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility for the 2027 presidential race, dismissing calls for his retirement as “unbridled chicanery” and citing numerous global leaders who served successfully at advanced ages.
Dele Momodu, a prominent publisher and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has formally dismissed intensifying calls for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside from the 2027 presidential contest. Responding on Saturday to criticisms from activist Zekeri Idris Jnr—a supporter of Peter Obi who argued that Atiku’s projected age of 80 by the next election makes him unfit—Momodu characterized the campaign against the former Vice President as “unbridled chicanery.” He asserted that the focus on Atiku’s age is a strategic distraction, suggesting that critics are intentionally targeting an opposition figure rather than addressing the performance of the current administration.
In a spirited defense shared via his official X handle, Momodu argued that those campaigning against Atiku’s candidacy are misplacing their political efforts. He challenged the narrative that advanced age is a disqualifying factor for leadership, emphasizing that experience often translates to more effective governance. “Instead of making videos against the ruling government, you’re dissipating energy on a man who has never wronged your preferred candidate,” Momodu stated. He further questioned the logic of the opposition’s attacks, rhetorically asking, “What disqualifies Alhaji Atiku Abubakar please!” as he urged activists to hold the ruling party accountable for Nigeria’s current economic and social challenges instead.
To bolster his argument, Momodu provided a comprehensive list of global and regional leaders who maintained power or sought office well into their 70s and 80s. He cited former United States Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, and Liberia’s Joseph Boakai, among others, noting that these figures “made good use of their age and experience for the betterment of their nations.” By referencing successful tenures of older statesmen like Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Momodu insisted that Atiku’s age should be viewed as an asset of veteran experience rather than a liability in the upcoming 2027 electoral cycle.