Does age still matter in African leadership?
That question is back in the spotlight after Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), endorsed President Bola Tinubu, now 73, to run again in 2027. The announcement came during a summit in Abuja, timed to mark the second anniversary of Tinubu’s presidency.
This move isn’t just about politics in Nigeria. It’s part of a bigger story playing out across Africa: veterans clinging to power while younger generations wait in the wings, frustrated and sidelined.
Tinubu came into office in 2023 after a disputed election that his rivals claimed was rigged. He brushed off the accusations, saying his win was legitimate. Since then, he’s rolled out major reforms like ending the petrol subsidy and floating the exchange rate. Global institutions like the IMF and international investors applauded him. But for everyday Nigerians, the story has been different. Soaring prices, economic pain, and rising insecurity have defined daily life under his watch.
Despite all this, the APC declared him their sole presidential candidate for 2027. Party chairman Abdullahi Ganduje made it official, citing Tinubu’s reforms and leadership. Cabinet members chimed in with their achievements, trying to sell the idea that this administration is worth another shot.
Nigeria’s opposition is weak and fractured. Some of its big names have already defected to the ruling party. Tinubu, clearly confident, even called defections “part of the game.”
But what does this mean for Africa’s youth, especially in a continent where more than 60 percent of the population is under 25?
When will young Africans get a real shot at leadership?
Why do aging political elites keep recycling themselves, often at the expense of fresh ideas and new energy?
Tinubu’s endorsement is a mirror reflecting the broader African challenge, a struggle between old power and young potential. Across the continent, millions of young people are asking the same thing: When is it our turn?
By Risper Akinyi