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The Social Democratic Party and Labor Party on Thursday criticized the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and warned that his new ambitions could further inflame tensions around Nigeria’s complex North-South power rotation arrangements.
Both opposition parties argue that besides constitutional rights, national stability and political sensitivity should guide presidential ambitions in a multi-ethnic federation like Nigeria.
The reaction followed Atiku’s victory in the ADC presidential primaries, where he defeated former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen to secure the party’s ticket in the 2027 elections.
The SDP reiterated its commitment to zoning its presidential candidates to the South, and stressed that such arrangements are part of the party’s constitutional framework aimed at promoting fairness, inclusion and national cohesion.
Speaking on the matter, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the SDP deliberately instituted the rotating presidency as a mechanism to balance power among the various regions in Nigeria.
“SDP, as a truly national political party, believes and will always promote the need to balance power and create equality and strengthen the sense of belonging among the various ethnicities and building blocks of the country.
“That is why the party has instituted in its constitution the concept of rotating presidential candidates between Southern and Northern states.”
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Despite the emphasis on zoning, Aiyenigba stated that leadership competency and capacity remain important considerations in determining who will ultimately occupy political office.
The Labor Party took a more critical stance, describing Atiku’s decision to run for president again as politically insensitive given the ongoing national conversation around regional equality and balance.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, LP said the former Vice President’s ambitions failed to reflect the reality of Nigeria’s fragile political structure.
“While the Constitution undoubtedly gives him the right to participate, morality and political sensibility must guide such ambitions in a fragile federation like ours.”
Labor also pointed to the controversy surrounding the ADC presidential primary, including allegations of irregularities and internal strife, as signs that the coalition platform was already struggling with credibility issues.
The party is positioning itself as the strongest opposition alternative ahead of the 2027 elections, citing its national grassroots network and institutional links with organized labor bodies such as the Nigerian Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
According to Asogwa, the Labor Party has a stronger national structure than several opposition coalitions currently emerging ahead of the election.
The LP spokesperson argued that while the ADC is battling internal contradictions, the Nigerian Democratic Congress lacks national spread, while the Peoples Democratic Party continues to weaken under the weight of internal crises.
“We therefore urge Nigerians to continue pinning their hopes on the Labor Party as the only realistic and credible path to saving this country from the clutches of the APC government,” he added.
Meanwhile, the United Coalition of Political Parties defended Atiku’s repeated presidential ambitions, insisting that there is no law limiting the number of times a politician can run for office.
Speaking on the growing debate, CUPP Publicity Secretary, Mark Adebayo, argued that Atiku’s tenacity only reflects his political resolve and vision.
“There is nothing wrong with running multiple times for a political office. So, even if Atiku has run 100 times, he can still run as long as he has the energy, health and resources. There is no law that limits the number of times a person can run for a particular office.
“I believe this just shows his determination and vision. Even President Bola Tinubu, when he wanted to declare himself president in 2022, said it was his lifelong ambition.”
Adebayo also alleged that the ADC coalition had been structured from the start to support Atiku’s emergence, and stated that it would be difficult for other candidates, including Labor Party’s Peter Obi, to get the pair before the former Vice President and his political allies.
