2026

Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, Reno Omokri, has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his claim that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old. Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, made the claim during a BBC interview published on Friday. He said he had evidence to support his assertion and promised to present it in court. Responding to the allegation, Omokri questioned its basis and referred to a photograph he said showed Tinubu with journalist and publisher Dele Momodu in London in 1996. Omokri argued that if Tinubu were 90 years old in 2026, he would have been 60 when the photograph was taken. He challenged Momodu to confirm the authenticity of the photograph and provide details about when and where it was taken, noting that the journalist was alive and could testify to its authenticity. Omokri also asked whether Tinubu appeared to be 60 years old in the photograph, urging Nigerians to examine the image and determine whether the person pictured appeared to be 60 or even 50 at the time. The ambassador-designate recalled Momodu’s previous accounts of Tinubu’s support for him during his years in exile under military rule. He said political differences should not prevent people from defending facts about individuals they had previously considered friends or benefactors. Omokri also criticised what he described as attempts to “age-shame” political opponents, arguing that the 2027 presidential campaign should focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than disputed claims about candidates’ ages. He urged political actors to raise the standard of the election by focusing on solutions to the challenges facing the country. Tinubu’s publicly stated date of birth is March 29, 1952, which makes him 74 years old in 2026. Meanwhile, Atiku defended his decision to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying his age should not be used to question his ability to govern. The former vice president described himself as strong, healthy and agile, adding that contesting for the presidency was his constitutional right. Atiku also pointed to his experience and competence as reasons for seeking the presidency and promised to tackle insecurity within his first year in office if elected. He attributed Nigeria’s security challenges partly to inadequate manpower and equipment, which he said had weakened the country’s security architecture.

The Presidency has criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his promise to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said Atiku’s statement was misleading because most of Nigeria’s land borders had already been reopened by the Federal Government. Dare said the government announced the reopening of most land borders on March 14, 2024, adding that President Tinubu also reopened the Kamba border in Kebbi State in February 2026. He therefore questioned which borders Atiku intended to reopen, urging the former vice president to explain whether he meant relaxing existing border controls and, if so, identify the specific measures he would remove. According to the Presidency, Nigeria needed to maintain effective border controls to prevent terrorism, arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime while allowing legitimate trade and movement. Dare stressed that an open border did not mean an uncontrolled border, noting that modern border management involved immigration and customs operations, intelligence sharing, surveillance, technology and coordinated security efforts. The Presidency also cited the security situation across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, arguing that Nigeria’s borders remained particularly important in tackling terrorism and organised crime. It said border communities could be vulnerable to attacks because of difficult terrain, limited government presence and weak coordination, making effective border management an essential part of national security. The Presidency urged Atiku, as a former vice president, to provide Nigerians with a detailed alternative policy rather than campaign promises focused on reversing or renaming policies already being implemented. Dare said Nigerians deserved to know how any proposed administration would improve border surveillance, strengthen intelligence sharing, modernise customs and immigration services, deploy technology and enhance cooperation with neighbouring countries. The Presidency maintained that Nigeria’s borders should remain open to legitimate commerce and movement while being secured against terrorists and criminal networks. It added that the Tinubu administration remained open to scrutiny and should be judged based on measurable outcomes in areas including security, economic recovery, border management and citizens’ welfare.

Former Senate Leader and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Ali Ndume, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing some officials of being “kakistrocrats” who dominate the presidency. Ndume made the remark on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he urged President Tinubu to remove officials he considered incompetent before they caused further damage to his administration. He described the recent controversy involving an alleged fake government agency operating from the premises of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s office as evidence of poor oversight within the administration. According to Ndume, capable officials would have prevented such incidents from occurring. He, however, commended Tinubu for ordering the arrest of Nwabueze George, who was allegedly involved in operating the fake agency. Ndume maintained that the president needed to take stronger action against officials responsible for what he described as embarrassing lapses in the government.

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has reaffirmed his commitment to restoring petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027. Atiku made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the Osun State leadership of the ADC. He said comments by his media aide, Paul Ibe, suggesting that the proposed subsidy would eventually be phased out did not reflect his position. The former vice-president said he remained committed to restoring subsidy, arguing that Nigeria had enough resources to improve the welfare and purchasing power of its citizens. According to Atiku, his proposed policy would focus on easing the impact of rising fuel, transportation and food costs rather than returning to the previous system of subsidising imported petrol. He said the intervention would support domestic refining, reduce energy and transportation costs and improve Nigerians’ purchasing power. He also stated that the proposed subsidy would be targeted and designed to prevent abuse. Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the intervention would be capped, transparently budgeted and independently audited. He added that it would be gradually withdrawn as domestic refining capacity increased, fuel supply stabilised and competition improved. The debate over petrol subsidy has intensified ahead of the 2027 elections following its removal by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, which led to a significant increase in fuel prices and living costs.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Arewa Consultative Forum, Pan Niger Delta Forum and Middle Belt Forum have called for greater scrutiny of the backgrounds and records of politicians seeking elective positions. The groups said Nigerians had the right to know the educational history, integrity and track records of candidates before entrusting them with political power. The ACF said presidential aspirants should be prepared to account for their past and provide more than just certificates to prove their qualifications. The ACF Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Baba, said candidates seeking the presidency should expect questions about their history, stressing that leadership required transparency and accountability. He added that Nigerians were ultimately more concerned about the impact of governance on areas such as healthcare, education, housing and household welfare.PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, supported the call, saying aspirants should make their life journeys and records available to the people they intended to serve. He compared political leadership to a job application, where candidates were expected to present their experience and qualifications. Similarly, MBF President, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said candidates should be judged by their achievements and track records rather than campaign promises. He urged all aspirants to subject themselves to proper scrutiny so voters could make informed decisions. However, Afenifere General Secretary, Chief Ademola Folarin, cautioned that while examining candidates’ backgrounds was useful, moral judgments could be subjective. He maintained that legal requirements remained the ultimate standard for determining eligibility for public office.