2027 Presidency: ‘Nigerians Will Decide’, Atiku’s Aide Counters Akume’s Claim

Paul Ibe, the media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has firmly stated that the decision about Nigeria’s presidency in 2027 rests solely with the Nigerian people, countering claims by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, that President Bola Tinubu’s re-election is “guaranteed.”

Akume had argued that President Tinubu deserves a second term, pointing to the principles of equity and fairness. He suggested that the North had already had its share of leadership, implying Tinubu’s re-election was inevitable.

However, Ibe responded by dismissing Akume’s statement as unfair and unbalanced. He highlighted that true equity and fairness must be based on a balanced leadership distribution between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions. Ibe pointed out that by 2027, the South would have had 17 years of leadership (8 years under Olusegun Obasanjo, 5 years under Goodluck Jonathan, and 4 years under Tinubu) compared to just 11 years for the North, which had 3 years under Umaru Yar’Adua and 8 years under Muhammadu Buhari.

Ibe emphasized that this six-year gap illustrated a disparity in the power-sharing arrangement, underscoring the need for a more balanced approach.

He also questioned whether the Tinubu administration had proven its worthiness for re-election, asserting that the Nigerian people, not political figures, will ultimately decide the country’s leadership in 2027. He concluded with a strong critique, suggesting that the answer to the Tinubu government’s re-election prospects was clear, “God forbid.”