Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, has suggested that the opposition’s best chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election is to zone the presidency to the Muslim North and the vice presidency to the Christian South. In an interview on Arise Television, Momodu stated that President Tinubu has already gained significant support in the South, making it challenging for a southern presidential candidate to compete against him.

According to Momodu, the ruling government has turned the election into an ethnic battle, pitting the North against the South. He noted that major political parties, including the PDP and APC, have been pushing for a southern candidate, aware that President Tinubu’s stronghold in the South would give him a significant advantage. Momodu cited President Tinubu’s considerable financial resources and control of state structures as key factors contributing to his advantage.

Momodu argued that a strategic counterbalance from the North could be the opposition’s only hope of gaining an edge. He dismissed concerns that zoning the presidency to a particular region would undermine fairness or the principle of power rotation, pointing out that the idea of an eight-year turn for the North and South is not enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

The 2027 presidential election is expected to be highly contested, with various regional and ethnic dynamics at play. President Tinubu’s popularity in the South, combined with his significant financial resources and control of state structures, make him a formidable candidate. The opposition’s strategy, including potential zoning arrangements, will be closely watched in the coming months as the election approaches. With the Nigerian political landscape becoming increasingly complex, the outcome of the 2027 presidential election remains uncertain, and the opposition’s ability to mount a successful challenge to President Tinubu’s candidacy will depend on their ability to navigate these dynamics effectively.