Presidency blasts Atiku over Tinubu power rotation stance, insisting South must complete zoning cycle ahead of 2027 election
The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on Nigeria’s informal North-South power rotation arrangement, insisting that President Bola Tinubu must complete two terms in office.
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Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga made the remarks in a statement posted on X on Thursday, accusing Atiku of advancing what he described as a “self-serving argument” on the issue of zoning.
Onanuga argued that the Atiku Tinubu power rotation debate must be viewed within the context of Nigeria’s political balance between the North and South since 1999.
He said Atiku Abubakar’s decision to contest the 2023 presidential election despite expectations of a Southern presidency contributed to internal divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party and ultimately led to his defeat.
The presidential aide also dismissed Atiku’s claim that zoning is purely an internal party arrangement, insisting that it remains a broader national convention.
He further addressed arguments about regional tenure balance, noting that the North’s shorter period in office followed the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which led to the succession of Goodluck Jonathan.
According to him, this development does not invalidate the long-standing principle of rotational leadership between the two major regions.
Onanuga maintained that after completing eight years in office, former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure should be followed by two terms for President Bola Tinubu.
He insisted that the Atiku Tinubu power rotation principle leaves the South with the right to retain the presidency through the 2027 election cycle.
In a strongly worded statement, Onanuga urged Atiku to step aside from future presidential ambitions, stressing that the political arrangement remains unchanged.
He said the zoning understanding must be respected to preserve national stability and political balance.
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The remarks are expected to further intensify debates around Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election and the future of rotational politics.
