Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has strongly criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his renewed interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election, accusing him of undermining Nigeria’s informal power rotation principle.
In a sharply worded statement, Onanuga described Atiku’s stance on zoning as “self-serving,” arguing that the former presidential candidate is attempting to justify another bid despite what he called a clear expectation that power should remain in the South.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, had recently reiterated his position that he is not bound by the North-South rotation arrangement. Speaking during an interview, he argued that the South has held power longer than the North since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
However, Onanuga dismissed this claim as “dubious political arithmetic,” noting that the North’s shorter time in office was largely due to the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which led to the succession of Goodluck Jonathan.
According to Onanuga, this development does not invalidate the longstanding zoning arrangement, which he said remains a stabilizing factor in Nigeria’s political system. He insisted that following the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, it is only fair that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu completes two terms.
The presidential aide further argued that Atiku’s actions in 2023 contributed to internal divisions within the PDP, ultimately weakening the party’s chances in the election.
He warned that a repeat attempt in 2027 could lead to another political setback for the former vice president, maintaining that the South’s turn in the power-sharing arrangement should be respected.
