Former presidential spokesperson Laolu Akande has rebuked African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over his alleged position that political authority should return to Northern Nigeria.
Akande described the argument that the North was dissatisfied and seeking to regain control of the presidency as offensive, stressing that Nigeria should preserve the rotational presidency arrangement to guarantee inclusiveness and equitable representation across the country’s regions.
Naija News reports that Akande, who formerly occupied the position of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, made his position known during an interview with Symfoni TV on Friday.
During the conversation, the former presidential aide assessed the preparedness of political contenders and their capacity to present a formidable challenge in the forthcoming presidential election.
He maintained that conversations about presidential power should not be driven solely by regional discontent but should prioritise an arrangement that allows different sections of the country to feel represented in the administration of national affairs.
According to Akande, portraying the North as angry and determined to reclaim the presidency could wrongly suggest that the region’s political ambitions reflect the views of all its residents.
He emphasised that maintaining rotational leadership remains essential to promoting national cohesion and ensuring that the country’s various geopolitical zones have a sense of participation in governance.
Akande said, “Atiku is just basically saying that, okay, the North is angry; we want power back. And that idea, with due respect to our brothers in the North, is an insult. It’s an insult. This country, we must maintain rotational presidency for purposes of building a sense of belonging.”
His statement comes amid continuing political discussions over regional balance, equitable representation and the distribution of presidential power as political parties prepare for the forthcoming general election.
Akande also expressed reservations about the ADC’s choice of presidential flagbearer, arguing that the party could have pursued alternative political arrangements to improve its position in the race.
He suggested that the opposition party should have considered selecting former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as its presidential candidate or made greater efforts to stop former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from leaving its political platform.
According to Akande, either option could have strengthened the party’s political standing and enabled it to build a more competitive opposition movement ahead of the election.
Explaining his position on the party’s candidate-selection process, he stated, “If they were serious, they should have picked Amaechi, or they should have prevented Obi from leaving, and then Atiku would have been a star.”
Akande’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the political calculations surrounding the ADC’s leadership choices, opposition alliances and efforts to consolidate support ahead of the next presidential contest.
Atiku, a former vice president and veteran presidential contender, remains an influential figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics. However, Akande’s criticism raises questions about the ADC’s approach to candidate selection and its ability to reconcile differing interests within the opposition.
The debate also highlights the continued relevance of rotational presidency in Nigeria, where considerations about regional representation frequently influence political negotiations and discussions about who should lead the country.
While Akande argued that power rotation is necessary to strengthen national inclusion, his comments reflect his personal views on Atiku’s position and the ADC’s political decisions.
