Big Tent Coalition Accuses Atiku of Political Double Standards Over Zoning Debate

The Big Tent Coalition led by Pat Utomi has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent comments on power rotation, accusing him of taking contradictory positions on zoning ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued by the coalition’s media team, the group argued that Atiku had historically benefited from Nigeria’s zoning arrangement but was now opposing the principle because it no longer favours his political ambition.

The coalition reacted to remarks attributed to Atiku in a recent interview where he reportedly described continued calls for power to remain in Southern Nigeria in 2027 as unfair and politically limiting.

According to the group, Atiku actively supported rotational presidency during previous election cycles, particularly after the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and during the build-up to the 2015 general election when major parties zoned their presidential tickets to the North.

The coalition maintained that zoning has remained one of the key political arrangements used to balance power between Nigeria’s regions since 1999, adding that abandoning the principle now could threaten political stability and national inclusion.

The statement further argued that the South is expected to complete an eight-year presidential cycle under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before power rotates again.

It also challenged Atiku’s claim that it would be difficult for a Southern opposition candidate to defeat a Southern incumbent in 2027, noting that Atiku himself contested against former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, during the 2019 election.

The coalition claimed that Atiku’s electoral strength weakened after the departure of Peter Obi from his political alliance, pointing to differences in vote totals between the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.

It also described the emerging alliance between Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as a broader grassroots coalition capable of attracting support across different regions of the country.

The group concluded that Nigerians are becoming more politically conscious and would focus on leadership competence, credibility and national unity rather than what it described as “selective political narratives.”