Dr Doyin Okupe, a former Director-General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, has stated that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s failure in the 2023 presidential election was largely due to geopolitical considerations and the need for North-South power rotation.
Okupe, in a recent interview with News Agency of Nigeria, argued that it would be unfair for the North to reclaim power in 2027, emphasising that the South should be allowed to complete its eight-year term.
He acknowledged Atiku’s qualifications but maintained that his candidacy would face similar challenges as in 2023.
According to Okupe, Atiku’s bid was perceived as disrupting the North-South power rotation, which contributed to his loss.
He emphasised that although Atiku has the right to contest in 2027, the conditionality of power rotation persists, and a Southerner would have just completed four years, necessitating another four-year term.
“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.
“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 still persists, a Southerner would have just completed four years and needs another four-year term.
“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,” Okupe told NAN.
Okupe’s comments come amidst recent consultations by stakeholders in the North and South ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okupe acknowledged that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is eminently qualified to run in 2027, but said aspirants from the North should shelve their ambitions in the interest of national cohesion.
He contended that Atiku’s candidacy would face the same challenges as in 2023 when his bid was perceived as “Disrupting the North-South power rotation.”
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