A senior All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Enugu State, Chief Osita Okechukwu, has called on Nigerians—particularly Northern politicians—to allow President Bola Tinubu to serve his full second term.
Okechukwu, a former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, made the appeal on Saturday during the flag-off of the APC e-registration at Eke Ward in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State.
He also addressed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, noting that while Abubakar is expected to win the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries, he should respect the zoning and rotational arrangement of the Nigerian presidency.
“By the time Tinubu finishes in 2031, any southerner aspiring for the presidency will not be allowed because it will be the North’s turn,” Okechukwu said, endorsing Tinubu for a second term.
He highlighted that Abubakar himself benefited from zoning in 1999 when he became Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo. “If not for good faith, restraint, and self-censorship, figures like Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Umaru Shinkafi, Adamu Ciroma, and Bukola Saraki could have taken power, but they conceded to the South. That is how Abubakar became Vice President,” he explained.
Okechukwu traced the concept of power rotation to Switzerland in 1848, noting it was designed to ensure national unity, fairness, and a sense of belonging for all groups. He added that after decades of military rule in Nigeria, patriots agreed to shift power to the South from 1999, before returning it to the North.
“To sustain Tinubu’s economic reforms, Nigeria’s democracy, and national peace, the South should complete its eight years under Tinubu,” he stressed. He praised Tinubu’s economic policies, saying the economy was recovering and expected to record further gains in a second term.
Also speaking at the event, APC ward member Mrs Kate Offor described the party’s e-registration exercise as a demonstration of transparency, ensuring that membership numbers are accurate ahead of the 2027 elections. She expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure a landslide victory.
Mr Chibuzor Onyeama, the APC e-registration agent at Eke Ward, confirmed that the exercise had begun and would continue, noting that registration requires a National Identification Number (NIN), voter’s card, and phone number, though network issues posed minor challenges.