Tinubu Must Complete Eight Years, Atiku’s Self-Serving Argument Won’t Work – Aide

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on the North-South power rotation ahead of the 2027 election.

Onanuga insisted that President Bola Tinubu must complete two terms in office, arguing that the South should retain the presidency until 2031.

“Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own,” Onanuga wrote in a post on X on Thursday. “All Atiku needs to do is to bury the thought of running again, as it is still the South’s turn in the 2027 election.”

The presidential aide accused Atiku of advancing a “self-serving argument” to justify an attempt to disrupt Nigeria’s informal zoning arrangement.

“In 2023, as a member of the PDP a party that, like others, practices zoning Atiku disregarded the established formula and sought to succeed a fellow northerner, who had spent eight years in office. His ambition fractured the PDP, leading to his resounding defeat at the polls,” Onanuga added.

His reaction followed Atiku’s interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, where the former vice president addressed the zoning debate in response to questions about a potential 2027 presidential bid.

Atiku dismissed claims of a binding national agreement on power rotation, stating that the only political party with a zoning provision in its constitution is the PDP.

However, he said he supports the principle of rotation and argued that since 1999, the South has held office for 18 years while the North has governed for 10 years.

“The most practical option is to have a consensus,” Atiku said, adding that he would support whoever emerges, even if it is Peter Obi or any other aspirant. He also indicated that the 2027 election would likely be his final attempt at the presidency.

Responding, Onanuga described Atiku’s position as dubious, arguing that the North’s shorter tenure was due to the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, which led to Goodluck Jonathan’s succession. He said this accidental breach does not invalidate the power rotation arrangement between the North and the South.