Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has dismissed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s latest remarks on presidential power rotation as self-serving and out of step with Nigeria’s political conventions.
During a Wednesday appearance on Arise TV, Abubakar had analysed the sharing of presidential power between the North and South since the return of democracy in 1999.
He observed that the South had occupied the office for longer than the North and asked pointedly: “the south has governed for 18 years and the north for 10, so who is in the deficit?”
The former vice-president also declared that the 2027 general election would be his last bid for the presidency and insisted he was not bound by any zoning arrangement.
In a sharp rebuttal posted on X on Thursday, Onanuga accused Abubakar of ignoring historical realities.
“Once again, Abubakar Atiku has put forward a self-serving argument to justify his attempt to disrupt Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement,” Onanuga wrote.
He recalled Abubakar’s 2023 decision to contest against a fellow northerner.
“In 2023, as a member of the PDP—a party that, like others, practices zoning—Atiku disregarded the established formula and sought to succeed a fellow northerner, who had spent eight years in office.”
Onanuga said that ambition destroyed the party, adding: “His ambition fractured the PDP, leading to his resounding defeat at the polls.”
The presidential adviser warned that history could repeat itself.
“Now, he stands poised to repeat history and face another doom. Another spectacular failure awaits this perennial candidate in the next election.”
Onanuga stressed that Abubakar had conveniently overlooked the reason behind the North’s shorter tenure.
“He conveniently overlooks the fact that the North’s shorter tenure was due to the untimely death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, which led to President Jonathan’s succession.”
Persecondnews reports that Nigeria’s concept of power rotation—commonly known as “zoning”—is an informal political convention designed to alternate the presidency between the North and South.
It is not enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, yet it has shaped candidate selection by major parties since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
The arrangement aims to promote national unity, reduce feelings of marginalization, and prevent domination by any single region, building on historical grievances over power imbalances.
The roots trace back to Nigeria’s turbulent post-independence era.
From 1960 to 1999, the North dominated leadership—both civilian and military—for roughly 37 of 39 years, fuelling resentment in the South.
The 1993 presidential election, widely believed won by Yoruba businessman MKO Abiola, was annulled by the military, sparking crisis.
When democracy returned in 1999, political leaders, especially in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adopted zoning as a stabilising mechanism.
The presidency would rotate North-South after every two four-year terms, with the South getting the first slot to address past inequities.
The Fourth Republic Timeline (1999–Present)
– 1999–2007: Olusegun Obasanjo (South-West, PDP) – 8 years. The former military head of state completed two full terms, setting the stage for rotation to the North.
– 2007–2010: Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (North-West, PDP) – 2 years, 11 months. Chosen as the northern candidate, Yar’Adua died in office, triggering a constitutional succession crisis.
– 2010–2015: Goodluck Jonathan (South-South, PDP) – 5 years. As vice-president, Jonathan assumed office and later won election in 2011.
Many northern leaders viewed this as a breach of zoning, arguing the North’s turn was cut short. The decision fractured PDP unity and contributed to its 2015 loss.
– 2015–2023: Muhammadu Buhari (North-West, APC) – 8 years. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate’s victory restored the northern slot, completing what many saw as the North’s full turn.
– 2023–present: Bola Tinubu (South-West, APC) – approximately 2 years 10 months (as of April 2026). Power shifted back South, continuing the alternation pattern.
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