Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a sharp counterattack against the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), directing them to focus on their leader's true age and identity rather than his political decisions.
Political Clash Intensifies Ahead of 2027
The political confrontation erupted on Thursday, November 27, when Atiku's media office responded strongly to comments made by Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC spokesperson. The ruling party had attempted to mock Atiku over his recent decision to officially join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku's senior special assistant on public communication and obtained by journalists, the former presidential candidate described the APC's statement as 'hollow and ill-considered'. The response highlighted what it called the Lagos APC's 'trademark hypocrisy, selective amnesia, and intellectual laziness'.
Atiku's Transparency Versus Identity Questions
The former vice president's camp drew a sharp contrast between his documented background and what they suggested were unresolved questions about President Bola Tinubu's identity. 'Atiku Abubakar's political journey is public, transparent, and fully documented,' the statement asserted.
It emphasized that 'his age is known, his parents are known, his educational records are intact, and his public life can be traced from childhood to national prominence without the need for forensic experts, private investigators, or sworn affidavits to reconcile conflicting identities.'
The statement made a bold claim about President Tinubu's age, suggesting that 'by all reasonable public evidence, he is well past 90, yet insists on clinging to power and is already scheming for a second term.'
Defending Political Mobility and Questioning Legitimacy
Atiku's team defended his decision to collaborate with the ADC as being driven by 'conviction, nation-building, and a shared democratic vision — not desperation.' The statement made a clear distinction between political mobility and more serious allegations.
'Party mobility is not a crime; identity fraud is,' the declaration read, in what appeared to be a direct challenge to the ruling party's credibility.
The former vice president's media office positioned him as 'the single most formidable, experienced, and prepared leader in the country today,' whose 'moral stamina, political clarity, and national acceptance continue to expose the emptiness of the APC's propaganda and the illegitimacy of the regime they serve.'
Shifting Focus to National Issues
Rather than engaging in personal attacks, Atiku's statement urged the Lagos APC to redirect its energy toward addressing pressing national concerns. It specifically mentioned 'the collapsing economy, the insecurity consuming the country, the hardship imposed on citizens, and the human suffering that has become the lasting legacy of their party.'
The statement concluded with a pointed remark about President Tinubu's governance, suggesting that 'if the APC is looking for a man defined by "restlessness, panic, and desperation," they need not look far. He is in the Villa — struggling to govern, struggling to appear coherent, and struggling to convince Nigerians that he is the age he claims to be.'
This exchange marks another chapter in the ongoing political rivalry between Atiku Abubakar and the ruling APC as the 2027 elections approach, with identity and age questions becoming central points of contention.
