Fayose: Atiku Is Too Old to Contest 2027 Election, Says Former Ekiti Governor

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, is too old to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Fayose made the remarks while featuring on TVC’s Politics Tonight, where he also questioned the political strength of Atiku’s running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, particularly in the South-South.

According to the former governor, Atiku remains a respected politician but should no longer be seeking the presidency because of his age.

“Atiku is now really old. He’s a good man, but time has caught up with him. Atiku contesting an election is like calling Biden to come and contest again,” Fayose said.

He added that President Bola Tinubu, Atiku and Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi were all approaching what he described as their final opportunity to contest the presidency.

“Let me say this again: President Bola Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi, this is their last chance of contesting an election. The three of them,” he said.

Fayose also expressed doubts about Amaechi’s ability to deliver significant support for the ADC in Rivers State, citing what he described as a lack of cohesion within the party and limited grassroots structures.

“In Rivers State, during this election, Amaechi will have very little support. Even the party is not together,” he said.

The former governor further argued that many members of the ADC and other allied political groups were yet to establish strong structures on the ground ahead of the 2027 election.

“Most of these ADC and Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, members are not on ground. Nobody is connected to those parties yet,” Fayose added.

His comments come amid preparations by major political parties and opposition groups for the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku, Tinubu and Obi expected to remain among the prominent figures shaping the political contest.