In Abuja on Sunday, Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, a prominent Labour Party figure and former National Assembly aspirant, made a compelling case for Nigeria’s senior political figures, President Bola Tinubu and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to step down from contesting the 2027 presidency. He argued that their continued political ambitions hinder the emergence of younger leaders who could bring new energy and ideas to the country’s governance.
Dr. Ezeh cautioned that the prolonged involvement of Tinubu and Atiku risks deepening Nigeria’s regional and ethnic divisions. “Both President Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku belong to the old generation of Nigerian politics. The time has come for these two old war horses to call it a day in electoral contests,” he remarked.
He urged Tinubu to prioritize the conduct of a free and fair 2027 election rather than focusing on a second term, noting that rumors of the president recruiting southern governors have already intensified political competition.
Regarding Atiku, Dr. Ezeh expressed apprehension about his rumored plans to run under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), suggesting this could fracture the opposition coalition. “Atiku is busy creating the impression in the North that the coalition is all about his presidential ambition. Two years to the election, Nigeria is already divided along regional lines. This is not a good omen for our country,” he said.
Dr. Ezeh criticized the notion of political entitlement, referencing Tinubu’s claim that the 2014 opposition merger was his initiative, thus justifying his presidential ambition. He likened this to Atiku’s expectation that the ADC platform should serve his 2027 aspirations. “Can we not see that this mentality is pulling us back as a country? Nigerians yearn for peace and progress. Enough of these old tactics,” he insisted.
He also highlighted Atiku’s failure to honor the power rotation principle, which he said led the PDP into a ‘political coma,’ recalling his unsuccessful presidential bids in 2019 and 2023.
“In 2027, Atiku should rest and demonstrate to President Tinubu that their time has been spent. Both men should recognise that they are like the two sides of an old coin and stop distracting Nigerian youths,” Dr. Ezeh concluded.
He warned Atiku against being influenced by southeastern politicians who believe he can secure Northern votes to defeat Tinubu, emphasizing Nigerians’ desire to move beyond tribal politics.
Despite these concerns, Dr. Ezeh expressed optimism about the ADC coalition’s progress, especially after Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s remarks that the presidency should remain in the South until 2031. He also noted that many expected Atiku to support his 2019 running mate, Peter Obi, instead of contesting against Wike.