The Nigerian president has denied rumours he died following a period of ill health and was replaced by a Sudanese clone.

Muhammadu Buhari addressed the speculation as he met members of the Nigerian community in Poland, where he is attending the UN COP24 climate summit.

"It's the real me, I assure you," he said, answering a question from the audience. "I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I will still go strong."

The repeated claims, spread on social media and in YouTube videos, alleged that the Nigerian leader was an impostor named "Jubril".

Image: Muhammadu Buhari said he was 'not surprised' by the 'ignorant' speculation

I can assure you all that this is the real me. Later this month I will celebrate my 76th birthday. And I’m still going strong! — Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 2, 2018

According to a statement issued by the president's spokesman Garba Shehu, President Buhari said: "A lot of people hoped that I died during my ill health.


"Some even reached out to the vice president to consider them to be his deputy because they assumed I was dead."

The leader branded those behind the rumours "irreligious" and "ignorant", but said later in a tweet that they were "not surprising".

It comes after Mr Buhari spent a large part of last year being treated for a serious illness in London.

The nature of his ill health has never been revealed to the public.

The lack of detail about the president's condition, his gaunt appearance and a reduction in public appearances have fuelled the rumours.

They emerged a month after Mr Buhari returned from another long medical trip to the UK.

Many of those endorsing the rumour were known critics of the Nigerian leader and his government.