A high-ranking member of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Okechukwu, has dismissed claims of a national consensus to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. According to Okechukwu, the prevailing national consensus is the rotation of the presidency between the north and south, a convention established in 1999 to promote equity, justice, and fairness.
Okechukwu made these remarks while addressing members of the Congress for Progressive Change in Enugu State, where he briefed them on a meeting with President Tinubu. He emphasized that this rotation convention is a fundamental aspect of Nigeria’s political landscape, adopted by the majority of Nigerians, both partisan and non-partisan.
In response to the African Democratic Congress’s claim of a national consensus to unseat President Tinubu, Okechukwu described those who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ADC as “internal displaced politicians” who are desperate for power. He advised them to return to the PDP and address the issues they created, rather than attempting to undermine the rotation convention.
Okechukwu alleged that these individuals are inadvertently creating a one-party state by breaching the rotation convention and unfairly blaming President Tinubu for their mistakes. He questioned whether President Tinubu had directed them to violate the rotation convention and the PDP’s constitution in 2023.
The APC member expressed surprise that the ADC has not embraced the rotation convention, which he believes is in the best interest of all Nigerians. Instead, he claimed that the ADC is engaging in a blame game, attempting to discredit the rotation convention, which he sees as a unifying force in the country.
Okechukwu reiterated his confidence that President Tinubu will receive a significant portion of the 12 million votes that former President Muhammadu Buhari garnered in the past. He noted that the northern electorate, which the ADC is relying on, is one of the most sophisticated in the country, and their support cannot be taken for granted.
The developments come as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, with various political parties and interest groups jostling for position. The rotation convention, which has been a cornerstone of Nigerian politics, is likely to play a significant role in the upcoming elections, with different parties and candidates seeking to leverage it to their advantage.
