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Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has strongly criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent comments on Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement, telling him to abandon any plans of contesting the 2027 presidential election. In a sharply worded statement, Onanuga accused Atiku of attempting to undermine the long-standing North-South zoning principle that has shaped Nigeria’s political balance since 1999. 
The controversy followed Atiku’s interview where he questioned the existence of a binding national agreement on power rotation and argued that the South had spent more years in power than the North. Responding, Onanuga described the argument as “self-serving” and “dubious,” insisting that it ignores historical context, including the death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua, which shortened the North’s time in office. He maintained that the zoning arrangement remains valid and necessary for political stability. 
Onanuga further argued that President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete two terms in line with the informal rotation principle, meaning power should remain in the South until 2031. He warned that Atiku risks repeating what he described as the mistakes of the 2023 election, where his candidacy allegedly contributed to internal divisions within his party and eventual defeat. 
The presidential aide went on to describe Atiku as a “perennial candidate,” urging him to “bury the thought of running again” in 2027. The exchange has intensified political tensions ahead of the next general election, as debates over zoning, party strategy, and potential candidates continue to dominate Nigeria’s political landscape. 
