Politics

2027: Atiku Camp Warns Opposition Against Zoning Presidency to South

Published

3 months ago

May 12, 2026

Osun Account Freeze: Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Weaponising State Institutions Against Opposition

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

2027: Atiku Camp Warns Opposition Against Zoning Presidency to South

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly opposed calls for the opposition to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, warning that such a strategy could hand President Bola Ahmed Tinubu an easy path to re-election.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday by Atiku’s media aide, Olusola Sanni, the former vice president’s camp described the growing demand for a southern opposition candidate as politically unrealistic, strategically weak and historically unsupported.

According to the statement, there is no precedent in Nigeria’s democratic history where an opposition candidate from the same geopolitical region as a sitting president successfully defeated an incumbent.

“The first and most obvious question is this: how does a Southern opposition candidate realistically unseat a sitting Southern president? Nigerian political history offers no precedent for such an outcome,” the statement said.

“No incumbent president has ever been defeated by an opposition challenger from the same geopolitical bloc. To insist otherwise is to enter the contest already defeated.”

The statement comes amid increasing political realignments and coalition discussions ahead of the 2027 general election, particularly among opposition figures seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Political stakeholders across the country have been divided over whether power should remain in Southern Nigeria after Tinubu’s first term or rotate back to the North under Nigeria’s informal zoning arrangement.

While the Atiku camp acknowledged that the APC could reasonably retain a southern presidential candidate because Tinubu is the incumbent, it argued that the opposition should not blindly adopt the same approach without carefully evaluating electoral realities.

“Defeating an incumbent president requires realism, not romanticism; strategy, not sentiment; honesty, not selective memory,” the statement noted.

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“The opposition must decide whether its goal is to make an emotional statement or to actually win power.”

The former vice president’s camp also challenged the “equity and fairness” argument frequently advanced by proponents of southern zoning.

According to the statement, by 2027, Southern Nigeria would have held presidential power for nearly 18 years in the Fourth Republic, while the North would have governed for roughly 10 years.

The Atiku camp argued that extending southern leadership beyond Tinubu’s tenure would further deepen political imbalance rather than correct it.

“It therefore becomes difficult to understand the justice in an argument that seeks to deepen an already existing imbalance under the guise of equity,” the statement added.

The camp also accused some political actors of hypocrisy and selective interpretation of zoning principles, especially regarding events surrounding the 2011 presidential election.

It recalled that after the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010, many politicians who now advocate strict zoning supported the candidacy of former President Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South region, despite expectations that power should remain in the North under the informal rotational arrangement.

“It is intellectually dishonest for those who enthusiastically supported a Southern presidency under Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, despite the North’s legitimate expectation under the informal zoning arrangement, to now suddenly posture as custodians of rotational justice,” the statement argued.

“Principles do not become sacred only when they align with personal ambition.”

The Atiku camp also addressed ongoing conversations about the Southeast producing Nigeria’s next president.

While recognising the legitimate aspirations of the Southeast region, the statement warned against what it described as “symbolic tokenism” and “transactional political bargaining” designed merely to advance individual ambitions rather than genuine national inclusion.

“The Southeast deserves a sustainable and credible pathway to national leadership — not symbolic tokenism or bespoke arrangements tailored to satisfy one individual’s ambition,” the statement said.

Although no names were mentioned directly, political observers believe the comments may be linked to ongoing agitation by supporters of Peter Obi and other southeastern political interests advocating a southern or southeastern presidency in 2027.

The statement ultimately urged opposition parties and coalition leaders to prioritise building a broad national alliance capable of defeating Tinubu and the APC rather than engaging in emotional zoning disputes.

Analysts believe the latest position by Atiku’s camp could intensify political tension within opposition circles, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party and emerging coalition movements ahead of 2027.

Atiku, a northern Muslim politician from Adamawa State, remains one of Nigeria’s most influential opposition figures and has contested for the presidency multiple times since 1993.

Although he has not formally declared his intention to run in 2027, his continued political engagements, coalition talks and public interventions have fueled speculation about another presidential bid.

The debate over zoning, regional balance and electoral strategy is expected to remain one of the defining issues shaping Nigeria’s political landscape in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

2027: Atiku Camp Warns Opposition Against Zoning Presidency to South

Related Topics:Atiku Featured Opposition Presidency south

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Keep Religion Out of Nigeria’s ‘Dirty Politics,’ Gumi Tells Jingir

Published

6 hours ago

August 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Keep Religion Out of Nigeria’s ‘Dirty Politics,’ Gumi Tells Jingir

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has waded into the growing controversy over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, defending his colleague Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir while urging all political actors to keep religion out of what he described as Nigeria’s “dirty politics.” Gumi’s intervention comes as Jingir’s recent remarks—in which he advocated for continued Muslim-Muslim presidential tickets ahead of the 2027 elections and reportedly referred to Christians as “infidels”—have sparked widespread condemnation from Christian leaders, civil society groups, and politicians across party lines.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Gumi argued that Jingir should be “excused” for what he described as an “extreme view in politics,” attributing the cleric’s position to his environment. “Sheikh Jingir should be excused for his extreme view in politics; he dwells in the eye of the storm of excessive bigotry against Islam,” Gumi wrote. Gumi, however, noted that the exploitation of religion for political purposes is not exclusive to one side of the political divide. He pointed to a recent controversy involving a Muslim vice-chancellor in Plateau State as evidence that the opposition also uses religion to garner votes. “Just recently, a mere Muslim VC in Plateau State is stirring controversy. On the other hand, the opposition is not also free from using religion to garner votes,” he said. Gumi urged politicians and religious leaders to keep religion out of partisan contests, emphasising Nigeria’s religious diversity. “In a multi-religious entity, religion should not be dragged into the quagmire of dirty politics,” he added.

The Plateau State chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has distanced itself from comments attributed to Jingir, describing a viral statement claiming the organisation’s “100 per cent” support for the cleric as fake and misleading. In a statement, JNI Plateau Publicity Secretary, Gambo Hamza, clarified that while Jingir is entitled to personal views, such positions should not be presented as the official stance of the organisation. “JNI Plateau State neither endorsed nor authorised any statement purporting to support Sheikh Jingir ‘100%’ in relation to the Muslim-Muslim ticket or any other partisan political position,” Hamza said. The organisation urged security agencies to investigate the source of the false publication, warning that it could fuel religious tension in Plateau State, which has a history of ethno-religious conflicts. JNI also clarified that it has no official position designated as “Special Adviser on New Media” and no official named Abdulsalam Ahmad, who was reportedly associated with the disputed statement.

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Former Kano State governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also condemned Jingir’s remarks. In a post on his verified Facebook page, Kwankwaso expressed deep concern over the cleric’s comments, which reportedly included a warning that those who oppose a Muslim-Muslim ticket should leave Nigeria because the country belongs to Muslims. “Let it be clearly stated: the good people of Kano do not endorse or support these divisive remarks,” Kwankwaso wrote. He urged political and religious leaders to uphold truth, promote unity, and advance reconciliation, adding that the 2027 elections would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the performance of the current administration. “The 2027 general elections will be an opportunity for Nigerians to reward good governance with resounding support and to reject poor performance at the polls. This administration has earned the latter,” he said.

Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, warned that Jingir’s comments could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election chances in 2027 by alienating Christian voters. Fani-Kayode, in a Facebook post, said he received more than 100 calls and messages from concerned Christians and Muslims following the publication of Jingir’s remarks. “Jingir is not only feeding into that false narrative with his reckless words, but he is also endangering the chances of our candidates in the 2027 presidential election because in order for us to win, we need BOTH Muslim AND Christian votes,” he said. He stressed that Jingir’s views were not representative of the APC or the majority of Nigerian Muslims. “Jingir does not represent the feelings of the APC and neither does he speak for us. He only speaks for himself,” Fani-Kayode said. He called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to invite and caution the cleric over his comments.

Reverend Dr Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, criticised three governors who were present when Jingir made the remarks, accusing them of smiling rather than condemning the comments. “When we cry out that we are being persecuted, when we cry out that there is a deliberate attempt to dominate us, people say, ‘No, this isn’t true.’ Today we have it—the man didn’t just say it in his room. He said it in the presence of three governors, and they were all smiling,” Hayab said. He argued that the governors should have immediately rebuked and rejected the remarks rather than appearing to approve them.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, also condemned Jingir’s comments, warning that Nigeria risks sliding into “a dangerous form of religious majoritarianism.” Dalung questioned the wisdom of reducing Nigeria’s complex political and socioeconomic problems to a religious headcount. “A Muslim-Muslim ticket does not put food on a Muslim family’s table, secure communities from kidnappers, create jobs, or repair the country’s collapsing infrastructure,” he said. He insisted that supporters of a Muslim-Muslim ticket should defend it on measurable issues such as competence, security, justice, economic growth, and good governance—not religious identity.

Keep Religion Out of Nigeria’s ‘Dirty Politics,’ Gumi Tells Jingir

Politics

FCT Minister Wike Denies Lobbying for APC Campaign DG Role, Vows to Deliver Tinubu Without Title

Published

19 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Trends Admin

FCT Minister Wike Denies Lobbying for APC Campaign DG Role, Vows to Deliver Tinubu Without Title

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has dismissed reports that he is seeking to become Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections, insisting his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election does not depend on holding any formal position.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has firmly denied reports that he is lobbying to become the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued on Monday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike described the claims as entirely false. The denial comes amid growing political activities and alignments as the 2027 elections approach, with reports in some sections of the media listing Wike among top party chieftains and government officials allegedly being considered for the influential campaign position.

Wike, who has been on a short break outside Nigeria, explained that his recent absence from the country followed an intensive period of official engagements during which he spent over 30 days commissioning completed projects, flagging off new ones, and inspecting ongoing infrastructure developments across the Federal Capital Territory. He noted that many of these projects are scheduled for further commissioning in December and January next year. The FCT minister stressed that he had not discussed either the leadership or membership of the proposed Presidential Campaign Council with anyone. His remarks appear designed to put an end to growing speculation over the composition of the ruling party’s 2027 campaign team, as consultations and political permutations continue ahead of the next general election.

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Wike reiterated his unwavering commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election bid, declaring that he does not need any official title within the APC campaign structure to contribute to the President’s electoral success. “Therefore, I do not need to be the DG or even member of the Presidential Campaign Council of Mr President’s political party to contribute my quota by ensuring that he wins handsomely in Rivers State and the FCT,” the statement quoted him as saying. The FCT minister emphasised that his immediate focus upon returning to Nigeria would remain the continuous delivery of his mandate in the Federal Capital Territory, in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also pledged to continue working to strengthen Tinubu’s electoral prospects in Rivers State and the FCT, despite not holding any position within the campaign council.

This is not the first time Wike has spoken confidently about President Tinubu’s chances in Rivers State. Earlier this month, during his monthly media chat, Wike declared that President Tinubu is the only presidential candidate capable of winning Rivers State in the 2027 election, urging political opponents to “cancel Rivers” from their electoral calculations. He disclosed that a broad political coalition comprising members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the APC, the Labour Party, the Action Alliance, and other groups had resolved to work together in support of Tinubu’s re-election while prioritising the interests of Rivers State.

Since joining the Federal Executive Council in August 2023, Wike has emerged as one of the administration’s most visible cabinet members, overseeing an ambitious infrastructure renewal programme in the nation’s capital. His political alliance with Tinubu has remained one of the defining features of Nigeria’s post-2023 political landscape, despite his continued association with the Peoples Democratic Party, where he remains a member. As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, Wike’s position appears clear – he will work for Tinubu’s victory, with or without a formal campaign title.

FCT Minister Wike Denies Lobbying for APC Campaign DG Role, Vows to Deliver Tinubu Without Title

Politics

Osun poll: Adeleke’s wife leads women’s protest over alleged arrests, violence

Published

19 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Osun poll: Adeleke’s wife leads women’s protest over alleged arrests, violence

The Osun State First Lady, Titilola Adeleke, on Monday led women from across the state in a protest against alleged indiscriminate arrests, political violence and intimidation ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The protesters, drawn from different groups of traders, artisans and other women’s associations, marched through parts of Osogbo before proceeding towards the Osun State Police Command along the West Bypass.

The protest was aimed at demanding a peaceful, free and fair election, while calling on security agencies to remain neutral and protect voters and political actors irrespective of their affiliations.

Adeleke was accompanied by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotosho; and other government officials.

The women carried placards with inscriptions including, “Election is not war,” “Stop indiscriminate arrest of our husbands,” “We want a free and fair election,” and “Police must be neutral.”

The protesters were prevented from proceeding to the main entrance of the police command but were later received by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Samuel Erale Etaifo.

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Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Adeleke said the women were concerned about alleged arrests and incidents of violence as political activities intensify ahead of Saturday’s poll.

She called on the police to invite some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for questioning over alleged violence and urged political actors to commit themselves to peaceful conduct before and during the election.

“We are demanding a free and fair election in the forthcoming poll. We want peace; let there be peace,” Adeleke said.

“They should stop killing our husbands and children. Make them sign an undertaking. From what we heard, we learnt that they will start picking our leaders up this week.”

The First Lady also alleged that the Commissioner for Environment had recently been arrested and mistreated, describing the development as unacceptable.

“Last Friday, they picked up the Commissioner for Environment. He was brought here, stripped naked. This is not good enough. They should leave our people alone,” she said.

Adeleke subsequently submitted a letter containing the protesters’ demands to the police commissioner.

Responding, Etaifo said the police were working to reduce political tension and provide adequate security for the Osun governorship election.

He said his deployment to Osun was part of measures approved by the Inspector-General of Police to stabilise the state and create an environment where voters and political actors could participate in the electoral process without fear.

“I have been here for the past two weeks. The IG was here because of the heightened tension in the state. For the first time in history, the IG directed the CP election to come three weeks to the election,” Etaifo said.

According to him, the state had enjoyed relative peace since his arrival, but he warned that rival protests or confrontations could undermine efforts to maintain stability.

“We don’t want tension before the election; we want peace. We cannot conduct an election in an insecure environment,” he said.

Etaifo assured the protesters that the police would review their complaints and restrategise where necessary to address their concerns.

He said his mandate was to stabilise the state, provide an enabling environment for political actors to exercise their franchise and boost public confidence ahead of election day.

The police commissioner also warned politicians, supporters and other individuals against attempting to manipulate or disrupt the electoral process.

“If you are a manipulator of any election, that is even the worst. The IG and Nigeria will not forgive you. I will arrest you and take you to Abuja because this election is a federal election; we must get it right,” he said.

Etaifo commended the women for conducting the demonstration peacefully but urged them to return home to avoid any incident that could escalate tension.

He also directed police personnel to escort the protesters back to the point where their march began.

The protest came as preparations intensified for the Osun governorship election, with political parties and security agencies stepping up activities ahead of the August 15 poll.

The election is expected to attract significant attention as the major political parties intensify their final campaigns and mobilisation across the state.

With only days to the election, stakeholders have continued to call for restraint, peaceful conduct and strict adherence to electoral laws to ensure that voters can exercise their rights without fear or intimidation.