The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on Nigeria’s North-South power rotation arrangement, insisting that President Bola Tinubu must be allowed to complete two terms in office in line with the country’s informal zoning understanding.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused Atiku of promoting what he described as a “self-serving argument” aimed at undermining Nigeria’s long-standing political balance between the North and South.
Onanuga argued that Atiku’s recent position contradicted his actions during the 2023 presidential election, when he contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite expectations that the presidency should rotate to the South after the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, that decision deepened internal divisions within the PDP and contributed to Atiku’s defeat at the polls.
The presidential aide also rejected Atiku’s claim that zoning is merely an internal party arrangement and not a national principle, insisting that the informal power-sharing understanding remains central to Nigeria’s political stability.
He further disputed Atiku’s interpretation of historical presidency patterns since 1999, arguing that the North’s shorter time in office was a result of the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010, which led to the succession of then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
Onanuga maintained that this development did not invalidate the North-South rotation principle, describing it instead as an “accidental breach” of the arrangement.
He insisted that after Buhari’s eight-year tenure, the South is entitled to retain the presidency for another eight years under the zoning tradition, adding that President Tinubu should therefore be supported to complete his constitutionally permitted two terms.
“This Atiku will never learn,” Onanuga said. “He conveniently overlooks the fact that the North’s shorter tenure was due to the untimely death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, which led to President Jonathan’s succession.”
He continued: “This accidental breach does not invalidate the power rotation arrangement between the North and the South. Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own.”
The statement further warned Atiku against any attempt to contest the 2027 presidential election, stressing that it remains the South’s turn in line with the unwritten agreement.
“All Atiku needs to do is to bury the thought of running again, as it is still the South’s turn in the 2027 election,” he added.
