The Presidency has issued a strong rebuttal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following his recent comments on Nigeria’s informal power rotation arrangement, with the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accusing him of attempting to distort established political consensus for personal ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a detailed statement released in response to Atiku’s televised interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, Onanuga described the former vice president’s position on zoning and power rotation as “self-serving” and based on what he called questionable logic. The presidential aide argued that Atiku’s interpretation of Nigeria’s political history was designed to justify another presidential bid, despite what he insisted is a clear understanding between the North and South regarding the rotation of the presidency.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, had argued during the interview that he does not consider himself bound by the country’s informal zoning arrangement. According to him, the South has held the presidency for more years than the North since the return to democratic rule in 1999, and therefore cannot claim exclusivity to the presidency in 2027.
However, Onanuga rejected this position, describing it as “dubious arithmetic” and insisting that it ignores critical historical context. He maintained that the perceived imbalance in years of leadership between the North and South was caused by extraordinary circumstances, particularly the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010, which led to then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan completing the term.
According to Onanuga, this transition was an “accidental breach” of the North-South rotation understanding and should not be used as a basis to invalidate the broader political arrangement that has guided electoral politics in the Fourth Republic.
He further argued that the principle of rotation remains a stabilising factor in Nigeria’s democracy, helping to manage ethnic, regional, and political tensions in a diverse federation. In his view, any attempt to disregard it risks creating political instability and undermining consensus-building among major political stakeholders.
Onanuga also used the opportunity to revisit the 2023 presidential election, where Atiku emerged as the candidate of the PDP but ultimately lost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He recalled that Atiku’s decision to contest, despite the presidency having been held by a Northerner, Muhammadu Buhari, for eight years prior, contributed to internal divisions within the PDP.
According to him, Atiku’s candidacy in 2023 went against the party’s own zoning arrangement, which had favoured a southern candidate after Buhari’s two-term presidency. The controversy surrounding that decision, Onanuga argued, weakened the PDP’s unity and electoral strength, paving the way for its defeat in the polls.
He warned that the former vice president appears to be repeating what he described as a political miscalculation, suggesting that Atiku’s ambitions ahead of 2027 may again clash with prevailing political expectations regarding regional balance.
In strongly worded remarks, Onanuga said Atiku risks another electoral defeat if he proceeds with what he termed a disregard for political realities. He described the former vice president as a “perennial candidate” and suggested that his continued pursuit of the presidency despite repeated losses signals a refusal to accept the evolving political consensus within the country.
Turning specifically to Atiku’s interview comments, Onanuga criticised what he described as a “brazenly self-serving twist” in the former vice president’s interpretation of Nigeria’s power structure since 1999. He said Atiku selectively interpreted historical events while ignoring key constitutional and political developments that shaped leadership transitions.
The presidential aide reiterated that the succession of Goodluck Jonathan following Yar’Adua’s death was not part of the standard political rotation agreement but an unforeseen constitutional necessity. As such, he insisted it cannot be used to argue against the North-South rotation principle that has influenced informal political agreements among major parties.
Onanuga maintained that since Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, completed two terms in office from 2015 to 2023, it is only fair and politically consistent that the South retains the presidency through the current tenure of President Bola Tinubu. He argued that the arrangement helps preserve balance and trust between Nigeria’s major geopolitical blocs.
“Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own,” Onanuga stated in his response, adding that political actors should respect the unwritten understanding that has helped maintain national cohesion. He further advised Atiku to reconsider his ambition, insisting that the 2027 presidential contest should remain within the Southern region.
The statement also took a swipe at what Onanuga described as Atiku’s evolving political alliances and positioning ahead of the next election cycle. He suggested that the former vice president’s comments may reflect early manoeuvring within opposition circles, including emerging coalition discussions involving figures from different political platforms.
He warned that continued disregard for zoning principles could deepen divisions within political parties and complicate efforts to build broad-based coalitions capable of governing a complex country like Nigeria. According to him, rotation is not merely a political convention but a stabilising mechanism that ensures inclusivity and reduces regional distrust.
Atiku, however, has consistently maintained that his political ambition is driven by national interest rather than regional considerations. In previous statements and interviews, he has argued that competence, experience, and electoral appeal should take precedence over zoning arrangements, which he describes as informal and not legally binding.
The debate over zoning and rotation has long been a central issue in Nigerian politics, particularly within the two dominant parties, the APC and the PDP. While not enshrined in the constitution, the arrangement has often been used to manage power distribution between the North and South since the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999.
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, political positioning has begun to intensify, with key actors across party lines signalling potential alliances and candidacies. The exchange between Atiku and the Presidency highlights the early tensions emerging around succession politics and regional balance in the race for Nigeria’s highest office.
