The Presidency on Thursday advised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to abandon any plan to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that it is still the turn of southern Nigeria to produce the country’s leader.
The warning was issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga in a strongly worded statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. He described Atiku’s renewed ambition as “self-serving” and said it goes against Nigeria’s long-standing power rotation arrangement between the North and the South.
Presidency Raises Zoning Argument
Onanuga said the informal zoning system has helped to maintain balance and stability in Nigeria’s democracy since 1999, when the country returned to civilian rule.
According to him, allowing another northern candidate to emerge as president in 2027 would disrupt this arrangement and create unnecessary political tension.
“This Atiku will never learn,” Onanuga wrote, accusing the former vice-president of attempting to “disrupt Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement.”
The presidential aide stressed that after the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, it is only fair for the South to complete its turn in power.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a southerner, assumed office in 2023 after winning the presidential election. By Nigeria’s unwritten political understanding, many believe the South should retain the presidency for eight years before power shifts again.
“Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own,” Onanuga said.
The reaction from the Presidency followed comments by Atiku during a recent interview on ARISE TV, where he said he would contest the presidency one last time in 2027.
Atiku, who has contested for president multiple times, is considered one of the leading figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics. He is currently linked with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has recently attracted interest from opposition politicians seeking a new platform.
His latest declaration has already stirred debate across the political space, especially within parties that are trying to rebuild after the 2023 elections.
Onanuga also referred to the events leading up to the 2023 presidential election, when Atiku ran as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said Atiku ignored the PDP’s zoning tradition at the time by contesting to succeed another northern president, Buhari, instead of allowing a southern candidate to emerge.
That decision, according to him, caused internal divisions within the party. The crisis led to the emergence of opposing groups within the PDP, weakening its chances in the election.
“His ambition fractured the PDP, leading to his resounding defeat at the polls,” Onanuga said.
In the 2023 election, Tinubu of the ruling party emerged winner, while Atiku came second.
Atiku has argued that he is not bound by zoning, claiming that the South has held power for a longer period than the North since 1999.
However, the Presidency dismissed this claim as misleading.
Onanuga described it as “dubious political arithmetic,” saying the calculation ignores key historical events that affected the balance of power.
He pointed to the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 while in office. Yar’Adua, who was from the North, was succeeded by his vice-president, Goodluck Jonathan, from the South.
Jonathan completed Yar’Adua’s term and later won his own election in 2011, serving until 2015.
According to the Presidency, this situation was an unexpected development and should not be used to justify breaking the zoning understanding.
“The imbalance was due to extraordinary circumstances,” Onanuga said, adding that such events do not cancel the need for fairness in power sharing.
Although zoning is not written in the Nigerian Constitution, it has become an important part of the country’s political culture.
The idea is to ensure that different regions and ethnic groups feel included in governance, especially in a diverse country like Nigeria.
Since 1999, power has rotated between the North and South, with each region producing presidents for varying periods.
The latest exchange between the Presidency and Atiku highlights the early build-up to the 2027 elections, even though the polls are still some years away.
Within opposition circles, there are ongoing discussions about forming alliances to challenge the ruling party. The ADC is one of the platforms being considered for such coalitions.
However, disagreements over zoning and leadership ambitions may affect these plans.
Onanuga did not hold back in his criticism, warning that another attempt by Atiku to run for president could end in failure.
He urged the former vice-president to “bury the thought of running again,” suggesting that the political conditions may not favour him.
According to him, repeating the same approach used in 2023 could produce the same outcome.
“He appears set to repeat history,” Onanuga said.
As the political landscape begins to take shape ahead of 2027, the issue of zoning is likely to remain a major topic of debate.
For now, Atiku has not responded directly to the Presidency’s latest comments. However, his statement about running again suggests that he is not ready to step away from the race.
With both the ruling party and opposition figures already positioning themselves, Nigerians can expect more political exchanges in the coming months.