Atiku Claims Tinubu Is 90, Says He Has Evidence to Prove It in Court

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is 90 years old, saying he has evidence to support the allegation and would present it in court if necessary.

Atiku made the claim in an interview with the BBC, published on Friday, while responding to questions about his age and his decision to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The former Vice President argued that his physical fitness and experience should not prevent him from seeking the presidency, particularly when he believes the incumbent is significantly older than officially stated.

“You have a President who is 90 years old now and sick and I am healthy and strong. So why won’t I make myself available to serve my country?”

Atiku then claimed that he possessed evidence concerning Tinubu’s alleged age.

“You went and voted for someone who is 90 years old. I have evidence that President Tinubu is 90 years old and I will present it in court.”

The claim differs significantly from Tinubu’s publicly stated date of birth, which is March 29, 1952. Based on that date, the President is 74 years old as of August 2026.

Atiku did not publicly disclose the evidence he referred to during the interview.

The former Vice President also defended his repeated attempts to become President, saying his decision to continue contesting was linked to his long-standing opposition to military rule and his constitutional right to seek elective office.

He said he had previously faced political obstacles and disqualifications during his earlier attempts to contest for public office, but maintained that his persistence was driven by his desire to serve Nigeria.

Atiku said his experience, competence and patriotism remained the major qualities he believed qualified him to lead the country.

“I have the experience, I have the competence, I have the patriotism. So why would I not make all this available to the service of my country?”

The ADC candidate also addressed Nigeria’s worsening security situation, blaming what he described as government irresponsibility, particularly in the areas of defence and policing.

He promised that his administration would take significant steps to tackle insecurity if elected in 2027, saying Nigerians should see measurable improvement within his first year in office.

“I believe within one year they should be able to see that, and believe me, within one year we can control this insurgency and insecurity that is all over the place.”

Atiku’s comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the opposition coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The former Vice President has also recently been involved in legal proceedings challenging aspects of President Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 election. Earlier this month, Atiku personally appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit concerning an alleged certificate issue involving Tinubu.

However, the claim that Tinubu is 90 years old remains an allegation by Atiku and has not been established as fact. The President has not publicly responded to the latest claim at the time of publication.

Atiku said he would provide his evidence in court if the matter requires judicial determination.