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Abuja, Nigeria – The Bureau Information | A significant political storm is brewing inside Nigeria’s opposition coalition as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar firmly rejected calls to step down for a Southern presidential candidate forward of the 2027 normal elections.
The demand—championed by political leaders and stakeholders from Southern Nigeria—is rooted within the longstanding precept of energy rotation between the North and South. Proponents argue that, within the curiosity of fairness, justice, and nationwide unity, the following president ought to emerge from the South.
Nonetheless, following a strategic assembly with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku declared he won’t succumb to any strain that undermines his democratic and constitutional proper to contest.
“I can’t be pressured into abandoning my constitutional proper to aspire. Let each certified member check their recognition by a reputable major. Zoning should not be used to silence competence,” Atiku stated in a press release launched shortly after the assembly.
Obidients Threaten Exit: “It’s Obi or Nothing”
The previous Vice President’s remarks haven’t gone down effectively with members of the Obidient Motion, loyal to former Anambra Governor and Labour Social gathering candidate Peter Obi. Tensions have escalated as Obidients issued a veiled risk to withdraw from the opposition alliance ought to Atiku persist in pushing his candidacy.
On social media, the message is evident:
“It’s Obi or we pull out.”
Obi’s supporters argue that Atiku’s insistence on contesting is a deliberate sabotage of the unity pact, which many consider was constructed on the understanding that the South would produce the consensus candidate.
Coalition on the Brink of Collapse
What started as a broad coalition to problem the ruling occasion now faces severe inner fractures. Political analysts warn that if either side proceed to carry inflexible positions, the alliance could collapse lengthy earlier than the 2027 elections.
Whereas Atiku’s supporters keep that meritocracy and inner democracy should prevail, critics accuse the previous VP of trying to hijack the motion’s momentum for private ambition.
“The coalition dangers shedding credibility if it turns into a battlefield for ego and powerplay,” stated Dr. Uche Oladipo, a political science lecturer on the College of Abuja. “A divided opposition is a present to the ruling occasion.”
Zoning vs Competence: A Recurring Dilemma
This isn’t the primary time zoning has sparked controversy inside opposition politics. In 2022, comparable tensions performed out between Atiku and Southern aspirants, culminating in a fractured opposition area that arguably handed a bonus to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Observers say the present deadlock displays deeper points about management construction, energy dynamics, and public belief throughout the coalition. With the 2027 elections nonetheless over a 12 months away, there stays time to salvage unity, however provided that leaders from all factions embrace compromise and readability of imaginative and prescient.
Keep up to date on Nigeria’s political developments and opposition methods forward of 2027 solely on The Bureau Information – your dependable supply for information updates in Nigeria at this time.
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