Dele Momodu has dismissed calls for Atiku Abubakar to step aside from the 2027 presidential race, framing the opposition as misdirected energy that should instead target the ruling government.
The veteran journalist and African Democratic Congress chieftain pointed to global leaders like Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Nelson Mandela, and Muhammadu Buhari as proof that age does not disqualify effective leadership, arguing that Atiku’s experience remains an asset rather than a liability.
Momodu’s rebuttal followed a viral video by activist Zekeri Idris Jnr, who urged Atiku to yield to younger candidates, insisting no young Nigerian would vote for an 80-year-old president regardless of running mate, and calling for Atiku to instead unite figures like Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso as an elder statesman.
Meanwhile, Atiku himself has asserted his dominance in northern Nigeria, claiming in a television interview that no northern contender — including Kwankwaso, Tambuwal, or El-Rufai — commands more bloc support than he does, while acknowledging Kwankwaso’s strength in Kano as a localized base.
He signaled willingness to step aside if defeated in a primary, reaffirming the African Democratic Congress’s preference for a consensus candidate but accepting a democratic vote as a fallback, and insisted he remains determined to contest the 2027 election under the party’s banner.
The Presidency has warned that Atiku’s bid risks undermining national cohesion, a concern echoed by internal party tensions as the race for the ADC nomination exposes fractures between northern and southern factions over zoning and candidate preference.
Supporters of Peter Obi, led by Tanko Yunusa of the Obedient Movement, have argued the party cannot win without him as the presidential candidate, advocating for southern zoning and highlighting the popularity of an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket among party faithful.
In response, the Kwankwasiyya movement challenged Atiku’s narrative of northern dominance, insisting only Obi and Kwankwaso possess organic, grassroots followings unshaped by party machinery, while suggesting Atiku’s electoral strength has historically relied on institutional backing rather than personal appeal.
The movement’s spokesperson, Habib Mailemo, drew a contrast between leaders who rose through independent movements and those who benefited from established structures, arguing a fair assessment of Atiku’s personal appeal would require him to build a base from scratch as Obi and Kwankwaso did.
Mailemo further noted that the Kwankwasiyya movement’s entry into the ADC is motivated solely by national recovery, not personal ambition, and cited Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s emergence as historical proof that political structures often shape electoral outcomes more than individual merit alone.
Why is Atiku’s age becoming a central issue in the 2027 presidential debate?
Critics argue that at 80, he would be too old to effectively govern, citing the need for new energy to address Nigeria’s challenges, while supporters point to global examples of leaders who served effectively at advanced ages.
What is the African Democratic Congress’s process for selecting its 2027 presidential candidate?
The party aims to first reach a consensus candidate among stakeholders; if that fails, it will hold a democratic primary, with all contenders — including Atiku — agreeing to step aside for the winner.
How do supporters of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso view their chances against Atiku in the ADC?
They believe only Obi and Kwankwaso have authentic, grassroots followings, arguing the party cannot win without Obi as the presidential candidate and that northern delegates should consider zoning the ticket to the south.
