A senior official of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected calls for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest, saying concerns about his age and health were unfounded.
Chille Igbawua, a former member of the House of Representatives and adviser to the ADC’s national chairman, made the comments in an interview with National television.
Igbawua was responding to suggestions that Atiku, who is expected to be one of the opposition’s leading contenders, should step aside in favor of a younger candidate, including New Nigeria Peoples Party leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“I do not know where he has data on Atiku’s health,” Igbawua said. “Atiku has not changed his age, but whether at that age he cannot govern is a totally different thing.”
He said age alone should not determine a candidate’s fitness for office, arguing that some younger politicians lack Atiku’s energy, judgment and political experience.
“I know people who say they are younger than Atiku who don’t appear to have the agility, mental capacity and sagacity that Atiku has,” he said.
“It is not the age you count on paper. Age also goes with the state of health, and I’m not seeing any of those as being a deficit on the part of Atiku Abubakar.”
Igbawua also criticized comments suggesting that Atiku should withdraw so the opposition could look after him if it wins the election.
He described the proposal as insulting and warned that it was widening divisions among opposition parties.
“To suggest that Atiku should step down so that if they win they will take care of him, how? That is an insult,” he said. “Take care of him in what way? You want to pay his hospital bills? You want to provide food in his house?”
The remarks have added to tensions among opposition figures as parties weigh whether to field a joint candidate against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Igbawua said the ADC remained willing to negotiate with other opposition groups, even though an agreement was not guaranteed.
At all times, we are ready for dialogue,” he said. “Whether it will succeed or not is a different thing. But at least it gives the opportunity for the opposition to come together.”
Asked whether the ADC could win if opposition parties presented multiple candidates, Igbawua expressed confidence that the party could defeat Tinubu.
“We would defeat the incumbent and change the country,” he said. “I say that confidently. I’m not being rhetorical, “he added.
