African Democratic Congress chieftain Dino Melaye has mocked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his three-week annual leave abroad, linking the President’s absence to the renewed controversy over his age.
Tinubu left Abuja on Sunday, August 30, 2026, for Europe, with London, United Kingdom, as his first stop. The Presidency said the trip was part of his annual leave.
President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu would return after the break to resume engagements ahead of the January 2027 elections.
Reacting on X, Melaye, a former Kogi West senator, questioned the length of the President’s absence and wrote: “Which President will leave his country for 3 weeks? Only Tinubu. Oga, dem no dey treat old age. You can only manage it. Agbalagbi.”
His remark followed a claim by former Vice-President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar that Tinubu is 90.
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In a BBC interview published on August 28, Atiku said he had evidence to prove the claim in court. He did not publicly provide the alleged evidence.
The claim remains unverified. Tinubu’s officially recognised date of birth is March 29, 1952, making him 74 in August 2026.
Debate over presidential absences abroad is not new. Former President Muhammadu Buhari faced sustained criticism over extended stays outside Nigeria, including a 104-day medical trip to London in 2017.
Tinubu’s current trip has been described by the Presidency as annual leave, with no indication that it is for medical treatment.
The development comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with Tinubu expected to resume official and campaign engagements after his leave.