Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and publisher Dele Momodu has rejected calls for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to step aside from the 2027 presidential race, describing the campaign against him as “unbridled chicanery”.
Momodu was responding to activist Zekeri Idris Jnr, a supporter of Peter Obi, who urged Atiku to withdraw from the race, citing his projected age of 80 by 2027.
In a post on 𝕏 on Saturday, Momodu said critics were directing their energy at the wrong target instead of holding the ruling government accountable.
“Instead of making videos against the ruling government, you’re dissipating energy on a man who has never wronged your preferred candidate,” the statement read.
The exchange followed a viral video in which Idris appealed to Atiku’s allies to persuade him to bow out and support younger candidates.
“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 in the video.
Idris also called on Atiku to play an elder statesman role by uniting younger contenders, including Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, rather than contesting the election himself.
In response, Momodu cited several global leaders he said served effectively 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 said 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 ran for the presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 and lost to President Bola Tinubu, is reported to be eyeing the ADC ticket ahead of the 2027 election.