2027: Opposition Leaders Urge Atiku to Step Aside for Southern Presidency

Prominent opposition figures have called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon any plans of contesting in the 2027 presidential election, emphasizing the need for a southern leader for the sake of equity and fairness.

Diran Odeyemi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee, and Anslem Eragbe, a Labour Party chieftain, have both argued that power should remain in the South until 2031 to maintain regional balance.

Eragbe specifically suggested that the presidency be micro-zoned to the South-South region, particularly Edo and Delta states, as they have had limited time in power compared to other regions.

“Atiku should support younger Nigerians and provide guidance instead of contesting in 2027,” Eragbe told Punch.

Odeyemi echoed this sentiment, attributing PDP’s internal crisis to Atiku’s insistence on running in 2023, which disrupted what was expected to be a southern contest following President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.

“If President Bola Tinubu wins in 2027 and completes another term, then power should return to the North in 2031,” Eragbe added.