According to a report by Daily Post, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on opposition parties to rethink reported plans to zone their presidential ticket to the southern region ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such a move may be politically limiting and counterproductive.
Atiku’s position comes amid growing political discussions within opposition circles over power rotation, coalition-building, and strategies aimed at unseating the ruling party in the next general election cycle.
According to him, decisions on zoning should be guided by broader national interest, electoral realities, and the need to build a truly competitive platform capable of attracting widespread support across all regions of the country. He argued that prematurely restricting candidacy to a particular region could weaken the opposition’s chances at the polls.
He further stressed that the political environment ahead of 2027 requires careful calculation, inclusiveness, and strategic flexibility, rather than rigid agreements that may alienate key voting blocs or weaken internal cohesion.
Atiku also pointed to the importance of unity within opposition ranks, noting that any arrangement that creates internal dissatisfaction or limits participation could undermine the overall objective of presenting a strong alternative at the national level.
Some stakeholders within the opposition camp have argued that zoning could help balance regional interests and promote political fairness, while others believe that the 2027 election should be approached purely on merit, competence, and nationwide acceptability rather than predetermined regional allocation.
Atiku’s intervention adds to a series of early political alignments and strategic discussions already shaping the landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties and key political figures begin to position themselves for what is expected to be a highly competitive race.
