The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent remarks on Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement.
In a strongly worded statement, Onanuga accused Atiku of attempting to undermine the long-standing North-South zoning principle ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He recalled that during the 2023 general election, Atiku—then the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—contested for the presidency despite the expectation that power should shift to the South after eight years of northern leadership. According to Onanuga, this move contributed to internal divisions within the party and ultimately weakened its chances at the polls.
Reacting to Atiku’s recent interview on Arise TV, the presidential aide described the former vice president’s position as “self-serving” and lacking credibility.
Atiku had argued that the South has held power longer than the North since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, suggesting that the zoning principle should not strictly apply. However, Onanuga dismissed this claim as misleading.
He pointed out that the North’s shorter time in office was largely due to the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua while in office, which led to the succession of Goodluck Jonathan from the South.
Onanuga warned that Atiku risks repeating what he described as a political miscalculation, labelling him a “perennial candidate” who could face another defeat if he contests again in 2027.
He further urged the former vice president to abandon any ambition of running for president and instead respect the country’s informal power-sharing arrangement designed to maintain political balance between the North and South.
The comments add to the growing political tension ahead of the 2027 elections, as debates over zoning and regional power distribution continue to shape discussions within Nigeria’s major political parties.
