Dr. Doyin Okupe, former Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, has shared his views on the 2027 presidential race, asserting that the South should produce the next president of Nigeria, not the North. In a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Okupe explained that while Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is highly qualified to run again in 2027, geopolitics should prevent him from becoming president.
Okupe pointed out that although Atiku is a capable leader, the issue is not his age or qualifications but the need for balance in Nigeria’s political leadership. According to Okupe, it is only fair that the South should complete its eight-year term, just as the North did before the rise of President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku failed in 2023, not because he was not a good person, but because people felt that a northern Muslim cannot succeed another northern Muslim after eight years, Okupe explained. He added that the political climate demands that a southerner take over, ensuring the balance of power across regions in the country.
Okupe further stated that even though Atiku has a right to contest in 2027, it is time for the South to lead the country, as the North cannot end the South’s tenure prematurely. He explained that this political arrangement, though not written in the constitution, has been an unwritten agreement that when a northern president serves his term, a southerner follows.
Regarding the chances of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, running in 2027, Okupe said Obi could certainly vie for the presidency. However, he cautioned that it would be challenging for Obi to unseat Tinubu.
On the question of political alliances in 2027, Okupe expressed doubt that opposition parties would unite to defeat Tinubu, citing the failure of alliances in the past. He stated that such alliances would not succeed because key political figures like Atiku, Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso would likely struggle to make the necessary concessions for a united front.