- Atiku Abubakar emphasised that only the Nigerian people can choose their president in 2027, responding to claims of Tinubu’s guaranteed second term
- He questioned the fairness of Akume's equity argument, highlighting leadership imbalances between the North and South
- The former Vice President emphasised that the decision on re-election belongs solely to the electorate, not political elites
Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria's former vice president, has made it clear that the power to select the nation's President in 2027 belongs to the people of Nigeria.
Atiku's remark came as a reaction to a statement by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s second term in office for 2027 was already secured.
Akume claims fairness for Tinubu’s second term
Ibe, Atiku’s Special Adviser on Media, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, December 9, asking, “But has the Tinubu government demonstrated that it deserves to be re-elected? The answer, alas, is as clear as the heavens themselves—God forbid!”
According to Akume, it was only right and fair, in the interest of equity, for Tinubu, a Southerner, to complete a second term since the North had already had its time in power.
Ibe replied to Akume’s comments by questioning, “Where, then, does true equity and fairness reside?”
Atiku says people to decide 2027 election
Ibe pointed out that, by 2027, the South would have held power for 17 years; eight years under Olusegun Obasanjo, five years under Goodluck Jonathan, and four years under Tinubu while the North would have only had 11 years, with Yar’Adua serving three and Buhari eight.
He argued that this creates a six-year imbalance between the North and South, impacting the power structure.
The Atiku Special Adviser on Media concluded by emphasising that the Nigerian people hold the authority to elect or remove a government, and they will decide whether the current administration warrants another term.
2027: Governors threaten lawmakers’ re-election over support for tax reform bills
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that some state governors allegedly pressured federal lawmakers to withdraw support for Tinubu's Tax Reform Bills, threatening to block re-election in 2027.
Philip Agbese affirmed the House's commitment to passing the Tax Reform Bills with minor adjustments, emphasising the national interest.