A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bashorun Dele Momodu, has described former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the only formidable northern presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections, expressing confidence that he can attract substantial support from both the North and the South.
Momodu stated this on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, while discussing the influence of northern voters and the evolving political calculations ahead of the next presidential election.
According to him, although the North remains a decisive factor in Nigeria’s presidential elections, its votes alone will not determine the outcome. He argued that Atiku’s appeal beyond his home region gives him an advantage over other northern aspirants and could strengthen the ADC’s chances in 2027.
“There is only one man who is very popular in the north and also extremely popular in the south. There is no formidable candidate from the north this time, except Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. So, that gives us a lot of comfort,” Momodu said.
He compared Atiku’s political standing with that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he said enjoyed considerable popularity in the North but faced greater difficulty securing support in the South.
The ADC Chieftain further argued that Atiku’s long-standing relationships with people across the country could help him overcome that limitation. He noted that Atiku spent much of his adult life in Lagos as a consular officer and developed close relationships with people from different parts of Nigeria, particularly the South-East.
He also pointed to Atiku’s marriage to Titi Abubakar, whom he described as a prominent Ijesha woman, as well as the former vice-president’s history of selecting southern running mates, as factors that could reinforce his connections with southern voters.
“Atiku Abubakar is very lucky that many of his friends are from the south,” Momodu said, adding that he did not think there was “any northerner more popular in the South than Atiku Abubakar.”
The ADC chieftain further argued that Atiku could benefit from the North’s political composition, noting that the region has 19 of Nigeria’s 36 states, in addition to the Federal Capital Territory.
He expressed confidence that the former vice-president could consolidate northern support while also competing for votes in the South, where several political interests and presidential contenders are expected to compete for influence.
“So, the stage is set for a very powerful fight, and if we now go back to the north, the north has 19 states out of 36 states, and then you add Abuja to it, so it’s looking like a celebration day, by the grace of Almighty God, for Atiku Abubakar”
However, Momodu acknowledged that the South would remain contested, pointing to President Bola Tinubu’s traditional support base in the South-West and the presence of other influential opposition figures in the South-East and South-South.
He maintained that Atiku’s national political experience and relationships across regional boundaries made him a strong contender, while stressing that the North alone could not guarantee electoral victory.
