By Our Correspondent

National News – A fresh political clash has emerged between Atiku Abubakar and Bayo Onanuga over Nigeria’s zoning arrangement ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The dispute, which unfolded on Thursday, highlights deepening tensions over who should hold power next, with both figures presenting opposing interpretations of the country’s informal North-South rotation principle.

Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, criticised Atiku’s remarks during a television interview, insisting the South must retain power until 2031.

He argued that since former President Muhammadu Buhari completed two terms, Tinubu should do the same, preserving what he described as a long-standing political balance.

Atiku, speaking on a live programme on Arise TV on Wednesday, questioned the legitimacy of a nationwide zoning agreement.

According to him, zoning is not constitutionally binding across all political parties, noting that only the Peoples Democratic Party formally recognises it.

He maintained that while he supports power rotation in principle, it should not limit political participation or candidacy ahead of the 2027 polls.

The former vice president further argued that, since 1999, the South has held the presidency longer than the North, citing what he described as an imbalance.

He also suggested that a consensus candidate could be the most practical solution for the next election, adding that he would support any widely accepted aspirant, including opposition figures.

Reacting sharply, Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s position as “self-serving” and accused him of ignoring historical context, particularly the death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua, which altered the North’s tenure in office.

He maintained that such events do not invalidate the zoning principle.

The exchange underscores growing political maneuvering ahead of 2027, as key actors position themselves for another high-stakes electoral contest.