Doyin Okupe, a former presidential aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has firmly stated that power will not return to the North in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election. Okupe made this bold claim during an interview on Arise TV, where he addressed the ongoing debate about the next presidential election and the possibility of a Northern candidate assuming office.
Okupe’s remarks come in the wake of increasing calls for a Northern president, with some politicians and groups from the region pushing for a return to power after President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-term tenure. However, Okupe strongly opposed this idea, asserting that Nigeria’s political structure should adhere to the established tradition of power rotation between the North and South.
According to Okupe, the political system in Nigeria has historically followed a rotation system where power alternates between the North and South every eight years. He explained that the North had its turn with President Buhari, and after his tenure, it is the South’s turn to produce the next president.
While he acknowledged the importance of fair representation, Okupe emphasized that the tradition of alternating power between the North and South must be respected to maintain national unity and political stability. He stressed that the rotation system is an essential part of the country’s political framework and cannot be disregarded.
Okupe also highlighted the issue of sectionalism as one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. He pointed out that the main reason for Nigeria’s stagnation is the failure of leaders to prioritize the nation’s collective interests over regional or ethnic considerations. In his view, past leaders were more focused on uniting the country and serving the national interest than on promoting the interests of any specific region.
This comment is significant in light of the ongoing political divisions in Nigeria, where regional loyalties often play a major role in elections and governance. Okupe’s position underscores his belief that Nigeria should focus on national unity rather than regional dominance.
Although Okupe expressed confidence that the next president would come from the South, he made it clear that he was not endorsing Bola Tinubu, the current president-elect, for the 2027 elections. Instead, his focus was on the principle of power rotation. He argued that, regardless of who runs in 2027, the key issue is ensuring the South gets its turn at the presidency, as per Nigeria’s established political tradition.
In response to the growing calls for a Northern president, Okupe’s statements serve as a reminder that Nigeria’s political system must respect its power-sharing agreement to promote fairness and national cohesion.
