Former presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is within his rights to contest for Nigeria’s presidency in the 2027 general election.
However, he emphasized that the country’s informal power-sharing arrangement would likely favor a southern candidate.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, Okupe attributed Atiku’s loss in the 2023 presidential election to geopolitical considerations rather than his qualifications or capabilities.
“Atiku failed in 2023, not because he was not a good person, but because people felt that a northern Muslim could not succeed another northern Muslim after eight years,” Okupe stated.
While acknowledging Atiku’s credentials and the legitimacy of his potential candidacy, Okupe stressed the importance of respecting Nigeria’s unwritten rotational presidency agreement.
“If Atiku still contests in 2027, he has a right. He is eminently qualified and one of the best we have, but geopolitics is an issue.
The conditionality persists—a southerner would have just completed four years and needs another four-year term,” he explained.
Okupe further highlighted the expectation that power should rotate between the northern and southern regions of the country, emphasizing that the south’s tenure should not be prematurely terminated in 2027.
“It’s not in the constitution, but we agree that when a northerner does his eight years, a southerner will do. So, the north cannot now terminate the tenure of the south in 2027. It is not going to work,” he said.
Okupe also spoke on Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, acknowledging his potential as a strong contender but warning of the challenges ahead.
“Obi can contest.
Obi is a young man, very dynamic and very ambitious; but geopolitics is important in a country that has not achieved horizontal and vertical unity,” Okupe remarked.
He acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s current leadership, suggesting that the incumbent president’s southern roots and perceived performance could complicate Obi’s ambitions.
“The person who is occupying the place right now, Tinubu, is also a southerner, who is doing well.
“ We can see what this gentleman (Tinubu) is doing. I wish Obi luck, but it is going to be an uphill task,” Okupe added.
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on Email: [email protected]
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE