Former APC National Vice Chairman (North West), Salihu Lukman, has dismissed the argument that the North should be excluded from the 2027 presidential race due to the power rotation arrangement, believing both the North and South should have an equal opportunity to produce a strong candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu, during an interview with NIGERIAN TRIBUNE.
Lukman, who resigned from the APC and is now part of a coalition of opposition parties, remains confident in their ability to present a formidable candidate.
He insists that the selection should be based on competence rather than regional considerations.
According to him, there are many qualified individuals from the South, as well as from the North, who are ready to contest.
For him, the debate over zoning should not limit political participation.
He maintains that the opposition must focus on building a strong platform that can unite Nigerians and challenge the ruling party effectively.
He believes that the best strategy is to choose a candidate capable of defeating the APC, regardless of their region.
The issue of zoning has been a major factor in Nigerian politics, with an informal agreement ensuring a balance of power between the North and South, however, Lukman’s position suggests a shift in focus toward merit rather than regional rotation.
“As I said earlier, I will not be blackmailed. I’m engaging these issues with my eyes wide open. I am absolutely sure there are many qualified people from the South and there are many people who are today offering themselves up from the South. So, it is not a matter that is closed to the North, and I am very confident that we will sort out the political platform, and say, this is the platform on which we are going to produce the candidate, whether from the North or the South, who can really match Asiwaju and defeat him,” he said.
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