Doyin Okupe, the former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has made a bold and definitive statement regarding Nigeria’s political future, asserting that the presidency will not return to the Northern region in the 2027 elections. This declaration has stirred significant reactions, as Okupe addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the possible return of political power to the North after the tenure of President Bola Tinubu.
Okupe, speaking on Arise TV during an interview on Monday, firmly tackled those agitating for a Northern presidency in the next election cycle. He identified sectionalism as a major issue, claiming that it has significantly contributed to the stagnation of Nigeria’s growth and progress. According to him, the past leadership had prioritized the national interest over sectionalism, something he believes has been largely absent in recent years.
The former aide emphasized the importance of Nigeria’s political rotation system between the North and the South, saying that it is crucial to the country’s unity and stability. He added, “I say this authoritatively without any fear of contradiction or equivocation, in 2027, power cannot return to the North yet. That’s not how we do it.” His statement continued, stressing that the North had already held the presidency for eight years, and now it is the South’s turn to take leadership for another eight years. This, he claimed, is the established framework that has governed Nigeria’s political structure.
While not necessarily endorsing the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, Okupe made it clear that a Northern president will not be in office after 2027. He explained further, “We rotate between the North and the South. The North does eight years, at the end of which the South does eight years. I’m not saying that Bola Tinubu must be president in 2027, but it’s not going to be a northerner,” reinforcing his stance on the importance of political rotation for the country’s progress.
