Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has certainly stirred the political pot with his latest stance. His camp issued a sharp critique of the growing momentum within opposition circles, specifically the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
Atiku’s argument isn’t just a casual disagreement; it’s a direct challenge to the logic of his peers. Atiku, through his spokesperson Olusola Sanni, labeled the push for a Southern ticket as “self-defeating” and “intellectually dishonest” for several reasons.
He argues that no incumbent Nigerian president has ever been defeated by an opposition candidate from the same geopolitical zone. In his view, fielding a Southerner to face President Bola Tinubu is essentially handing the APC an easy victory.
His camp pointed out that by 2027, the South will have held power for roughly 18 years in the Fourth Republic, compared to only 10 years for the North. He argues that calling for another Southern term in the name of “equity” is factually inconsistent.
Atiku took a jab at those who supported Goodluck Jonathan (a Southerner) in 2011 despite it being the “North’s turn” at the time, suggesting they are now only using zoning as a tool for personal ambition.
The reaction from Southern political blocs and opposition figures has been swift and defensive. Proponents of zoning argue that Atiku’s stance is a thinly veiled attempt to clear a path for his own candidacy.
