In a statement released in Abuja on Monday, Atiku’s media aide, Olusola Sanni, argued that although the ruling All Progressives Congress may continue with a southern presidency under Tinubu, the opposition must approach the election with strategic political calculations rather than emotions.
According to the statement, electoral success should be determined by coalition-building, political realities and winning strategies instead of sentimental arguments.
Sanni questioned the possibility of an opposition candidate from the South defeating a sitting southern president, noting that Nigeria’s political history offers no example of such an outcome.
He stated that no incumbent president in the country has ever lost to a challenger from the same geopolitical region, adding that any opposition party attempting such a strategy may already be putting itself at a disadvantage.
The Atiku camp also challenged arguments supporting southern zoning on the grounds of fairness and equity.
According to the statement, by 2027, the South would have occupied the presidency for about 18 years since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, while the North would have held power for roughly 10 years.
It argued that allowing the South to continue for another term would further widen the political imbalance between both regions.
The statement additionally accused some political figures of inconsistency in the zoning debate, especially individuals who backed the emergence of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 following the death of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
While recognising the South-East’s desire to produce a Nigerian president, the Atiku camp warned against turning the aspiration into what it described as symbolic political arrangements designed to satisfy personal ambitions.
The statement maintained that the region deserves a genuine and lasting opportunity to attain national leadership through a credible political process.
The former Vice President’s camp concluded by urging opposition parties to prioritise building a strong national alliance capable of challenging the current administration instead of relying on emotional political narratives.
