When People Said, ‘Atiku Is Too Old To Contest For Pres,’ I Replied,‘Did Sowore Not Contest?’-Momodu

In a recent interview on The Morayo Show, Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, spoke on age, political participation, and the debate surrounding leadership ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

During the interview, Momodu stated, “When people said, ‘Atiku is too old to contest for president,’ I replied, ‘Did Sowore not contest?’” He made the remark while responding to arguments about age and eligibility in Nigerian politics. 

Momodu explained that political leadership should not be judged solely by age, arguing that competence, experience, vision, and capacity are more important factors in determining whether an individual is fit to contest for office. 

According to him, democratic systems are designed to allow citizens to choose candidates freely regardless of age differences.

He referenced Atiku Abubakar and Omoyele Sowore while discussing how political debates in Nigeria often focus heavily on generational comparisons rather than policy direction and governance capacity.

According to Momodu, younger candidates have the constitutional right to contest elections just as older and more experienced politicians also have the right to remain active in the political process. 

He argued that democracy should create room for all qualified individuals to present themselves before the electorate.

He further stated that Nigerian voters ultimately decide who becomes president, stressing that popularity on social media or public sentiment alone does not automatically translate into electoral victory. 

He added that experience in governance remains an important consideration in national leadership contests.

Momodu also maintained that many successful politicians around the world remained politically active at advanced ages, noting that leadership quality is often shaped by knowledge, resilience, and exposure rather than age alone.

He concluded by urging Nigerians to focus more on policies, governance records, and leadership competence instead of reducing political discussions to generational rivalry, emphasizing that democracy should accommodate both youthful participation and experienced leadership.


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