2027: Okupe Outlines Reasons Why Atiku Cannot Become President

Doyin Okupe shares his perspective on why Atiku Abubakar is unfit to lead Nigeria as President in the upcoming 2027 elections.

Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, believes that in 2027 the President should come from the South rather than the North.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, Okupe stated that it would only be fair for the South to have the opportunity to produce the next President.

Okupe mentioned that even though Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, is highly qualified to run again in 2027, he does not believe it would be appropriate for the PDP leader to become president.

The former presidential spokesman stated that the issue with Atiku’s potential presidency in 2027 is more about geopolitics than age. He further mentioned that the South should be given a chance to complete its eight-year term, similar to how the North did before President Bola Tinubu took office.

Atiku did not succeed in 2023, not due to any personal shortcomings, but because many believed a northern Muslim should not follow another northern Muslim after eight years.

“If Atiku chooses to run in 2027, he has every right to do so. He is highly qualified and one of the finest candidates we have, but geopolitical factors must be considered.”

The condition remains: a southerner has completed four years and requires an additional four-year term.

It’s not stated in the constitution, but we have an agreement that after a northerner serves for eight years, it will be a southerner’s turn.

“The North cannot end the South’s term in 2027; it won’t be successful,” Okupe stated.

The former Labour Party leader mentioned that Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, could consider running for the country’s highest office again in 2027 as a southerner.

He mentioned, however, that it would be quite challenging for Obi to unseat Tinubu as President.

When asked if political alliances could potentially unseat Tinubu in 2027, Okupe expressed doubt that any coalition against the President would succeed.

He believes that alliances against Tinubu will fail because the participants won’t be willing to make concessions.

Regarding the alliance that helped bring ex-President Buhari to power in 2015, Okupe acknowledged that although he criticized it, Tinubu, the leader of the alliance, made significant concessions to ensure its success.

He doubted whether opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the LP, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP would be prepared or willing to form an alliance against Tinubu in 2027 by stepping aside for one another.