Atiku Rejects NDC Southern Zoning, Warns Opposition Ahead of 2027 Election
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the decision by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, describing the move as politically disadvantageous for opposition parties seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next general election.
Atiku, through a statement issued by his media aide, argued that presenting another southern candidate against a sitting southern president could weaken the opposition’s chances of victory in 2027.
The former presidential candidate maintained that politics should be guided by strategy, coalition-building, and electoral realities rather than regional sentiment. According to him, no opposition candidate from the same geopolitical region as an incumbent president has successfully unseated a sitting Nigerian leader.
The controversy followed the recent decision of the NDC to officially zone its presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria for a single four-year term expected to end in 2031. The arrangement is believed to favour former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, whose chances of securing the party’s ticket have reportedly increased following the zoning formula.
Atiku also questioned the fairness of extending southern presidency beyond 2027, noting that the South would have spent significantly more years in power compared to the North under Nigeria’s democratic dispensation.
Meanwhile, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has reportedly backed the zoning arrangement, describing it as a step toward political balance and national unity. Political observers also speculate that Kwankwaso could emerge as a possible running mate if Peter Obi secures the party’s presidential ticket.
The development has intensified political discussions ahead of the 2027 presidential election as opposition parties continue consultations and strategic realignments aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
