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Okupe Exposes Real Reason for Atiku Loss in 2023
Former Presidential Campaign Chief Attributes Atiku Abubakar’s Loss to Geopolitics
Dr. Doyin Okupe, ex-Director-General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, has weighed in on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential election defeat. Eagles’s Sights News has gathered
According to Okupe, Atiku’s loss was largely due to Nigeria’s complex geopolitical landscape and the need for North-South power rotation.
In a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Okupe argued that allowing the North to reclaim power in 2027 would be unfair. He emphasized that the South should be allowed to complete its eight-year term, stressing that Atiku’s candidacy would face similar challenges as in 2023.
Okupe acknowledged Atiku’s impressive qualifications but maintained that his bid was perceived as disrupting the North-South power rotation. This perception, Okupe said, contributed significantly to Atiku’s loss.
Although Atiku has the right to contest in 2027, Okupe emphasized that the conditionality of power rotation persists. A Southerner would have just completed four years, necessitating another four-year term, Okupe explained.
“Atiku failed in 2023, not because he was not a good person, but because people felt that a northern Muslim could not succeed another northern Muslim after eight years. “If Atiku still contests in 2027, he has a right. He is eminently qualified and one of the best we have, but geopolitics is an issue. The conditionality still persists, a Southerner would have just completed four years and needs another four-year term. “It’s not in the constitution, but we agree that when a Northerner does his eight years, a Southerner will do. So, the North cannot now terminate the tenure of the South in 2027. It is not going to work,” Okupe told NAN.
Okupe’s comments come amid recent consultations by stakeholders in the North and South ahead of the 2027 general elections. The discussions aim to address the country’s geopolitical considerations and promote national cohesion.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is eminently qualified to run in 2027, Okupe acknowledged. However, he advised aspirants from the North, including Atiku, to shelve their ambitions in the interest of national unity.
Okupe contended that Atiku’s candidacy would face the same challenges as in 2023 when his bid was perceived as disrupting the North-South power rotation.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, stakeholders are increasingly emphasizing the need for geopolitical balance and national cohesion.
The debate surrounding North-South power rotation is expected to continue, with various stakeholders offering their perspectives on the best approach for Nigeria’s future.
In the meantime, Okupe’s comments have added to the ongoing discussion, highlighting the complexities of Nigeria’s geopolitical landscape and the need for careful consideration in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
