Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Bid May Be Thwarted By North-South Zoning Strategy

Dele Momodu, the 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 noted that Tinubu has already secured substantial support in the South, making it difficult 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 observed that major political parties, including the PDP and APC, have been pushing for a southern candidate, aware that Tinubu’s stronghold in the South would give him a significant advantage. Momodu cited the president’s considerable financial resources and control of state structures as key factors contributing to his dominance.

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. Tinubu’s popularity in the South, combined with his financial clout and control of state apparatus, makes 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 remains uncertain, and the opposition’s ability to mount a successful challenge will depend on how effectively it navigates these dynamics.