2027: Atiku lacks Buhari’s acceptance, stature in North — APC chieftain

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr Iliyasu Kwankwaso, has claimed that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar lacks the political influence and northern support that helped the late President Muhammadu Buhari win the presidency.
Kwankwaso argued that Atiku would struggle to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, insisting that northern voters were becoming more concerned about governance and economic development than ethnic and religious affiliations.
The APC chieftain made the assertions in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, as opposition parties intensify consultations ahead of the next general election.
He said Atiku, who contested the presidency in 2019 and 2023, had yet to build a support base comparable to Buhari’s, particularly among Hausa-Fulani voters.
“Atiku is not Buhari. He does not possess the size, stature and acceptance of the late Nigerian President to pose a threat to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Kwankwaso also questioned Atiku’s record as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, arguing that the former vice-president had not demonstrated a record capable of convincing Nigerians to elect him president.
He maintained that appeals to ethnic and religious sentiments would not be enough to secure northern votes in 2027, adding that voters were increasingly focused on policies that could improve their living conditions.
The APC chieftain further alleged that Atiku’s associates were concerned about his influence among Hausa-Fulani voters. However, he did not provide evidence to support the claim.
Kwankwaso expressed confidence that Tinubu would remain competitive in northern Nigeria despite efforts by opposition figures to build a coalition against the ruling party.
Buhari, who died in July 2025, defeated the then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and won re-election in 2019, drawing substantial support from northern Nigeria.
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, lost to Buhari and Tinubu, respectively. He has remained active in opposition politics amid discussions about possible alliances ahead of the 2027 poll.