Atiku's Spokesperson Rejects Tinubu Allies' 'Eight Years' Claim, Calls Power Rotation Mere Convention

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's spokesperson Phrank Shaibu fired back at presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga's assertion that President Bola Tinubu 'must complete eight years' due to North-South power rotation, calling it a political convention not constitutional decree. Shaibu made this known in an X post April 16, 2026, stating: 'no presidential aide... has the authority to rewrite the Constitution... Power rotation is a political convention, not a constitutional decree and certainly not a tool to silence credible opposition.'

This exchange highlights escalating tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures describing Onanuga's argument as unconstitutional and undemocratic. Onanuga had claimed Tinubu's succession of a two-term northern president means the South should retain power until 2031—a view Shaibu dismissed as hypocritical, noting the same people 'shredded zoning within their own party when it suited them now pretend to be its custodians.'

The debate centers on whether Nigeria's unwritten power rotation agreement holds constitutional weight, directly impacting opposition participation and electoral fairness. With electioneering already intensifying, citizens should watch how this constitutional interpretation shapes party strategies and voter mobilization efforts as 2027 approaches.

Does this power rotation debate reflect genuine concern for national stability, or is it merely a tactic to clear the electoral path for Tinubu's continued rule?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/16/2027-you-dont-own-nigeria-atiku-replies-to-tinubus-presidency/