Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, a prominent member of the Labour Party (LP) and former National Assembly candidate, has called on President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to bow out of the 2027 presidential race in favor of a new generation of leaders.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Dr. Ezeh emphasized the urgency of a generational shift in Nigeria’s political leadership, urging both Tinubu and Atiku to embrace their roles as elder statesmen and support younger, more unifying candidates.
“President Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku are emblematic of the old guard. It’s time for them to retire from electoral contests,” he said.
Dr. Ezeh reiterated his earlier appeal for President Tinubu to focus on ensuring free and credible elections in 2027 rather than seeking re-election.
He warned that reports of Tinubu’s alleged second-term ambitions particularly efforts to rally support from incumbent governors in the South are already overheating the political landscape.
Turning to Atiku, Ezeh expressed concern over speculation that the former Vice President may run under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), cautioning that such a move could fracture the opposition and deepen national divides.
“Atiku is giving the North the impression that this coalition is all about his personal ambition. We’re still two years out, and the country is already politically polarized. That’s a dangerous signal,” he warned.
Ezeh criticized the persistent sense of political entitlement, citing Tinubu’s 2023 claim that the opposition merger of 2014 guaranteed him the presidency, and Atiku’s rumored belief that the ADC should now serve his presidential bid.
“This kind of mentality is regressive. Nigerians want peace and progress, not recycled power struggles,” he stated.
He also blamed Atiku’s past refusal to respect power rotation agreements for the internal crisis that weakened the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), referencing his bids in 2019 and 2023 that drew strong support from Northern elites.
“2027 is the time for Atiku to step aside and show Tinubu that their era is over. They are two sides of the same worn-out coin, and Nigerians deserve better,” Ezeh declared.
Ezeh further advised Atiku against heeding voices from the South East who allegedly encourage his candidacy based on presumed Northern support.
He emphasized that the nation is weary of ethnically driven politics and is yearning for visionary, inclusive leadership.
Nonetheless, Ezeh expressed hope in the growing strength of the ADC coalition, particularly following former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai’s recent remarks supporting a Southern presidency through 2031.
“Back in 2019, many believed Atiku should have backed Peter Obi for the PDP ticket. But instead, he chose to battle Wike, deepening internal fractures,” Ezeh concluded.
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