2027: Atiku’s breach of zoning is fueling political tensions in the North, says Osita Okechukwu

Osita Okechukwu, former director-general of Voice of Nigeria and an APC chieftain, says African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Atiku Abubakar’s breach of zoning is fueling tensions in Northern Nigeria and beyond. He argues the ADC should have respected power rotation by presenting a southern candidate, and warns that framing the 2027 race as a North-South contest could deepen ethnic divisions. Okechukwu recalls politicians who set aside presidential ambitions for national unity in 1999 and cites presidential elections he considers peaceful examples of rotation. He also criticizes deploying security personnel to protect campaign billboards while kidnappings, armed robberies, farmer-herder conflicts and insurgencies remain unresolved.