Abuja, Nigeria – August 8, 2025 — Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has launched a scathing critique against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of holding a deep-seated belief that no southerner is qualified to lead Nigeria as president.
Speaking during an interview with TVC News, Kachikwu questioned Atiku’s political sincerity towards the southern region, despite his frequent declarations of friendship and solidarity with the South. According to Kachikwu, Atiku’s political history and actions reveal a starkly different reality from his public rhetoric.
“Atiku Abubakar claims to be a friend and lover of the South, but his conduct shows that he does not truly believe any southerner is deserving of the presidency,” Kachikwu stated. “Former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan are both alive and can attest to this uncomfortable truth.”
Kachikwu’s comments come amid renewed political alignments and debates ahead of the 2027 general elections, where questions of zoning, regional equity, and political inclusiveness have taken center stage. His remarks appear to underscore growing tensions between the North and South over the rotational presidency principle — a long-debated issue in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
The former ADC flagbearer argued that the Nigerian political elite must abandon entrenched sectional biases and embrace merit, competence, and unity in leadership selection. He emphasized that continuous sidelining of any region from the presidency not only undermines national unity but also fuels mistrust among the country’s diverse ethnic and regional blocs.
Kachikwu’s pointed criticism of Atiku adds to a growing chorus of political voices questioning the former vice president’s commitment to power rotation and inclusiveness. As the 2027 political season gathers momentum, the statement is expected to stir further debate within both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the broader national political space.
Neither Atiku Abubakar nor his media aides had issued an official response at the time of filing this report.
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