Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, over his declaration that there would be no vacancy in Aso Rock for the next five years, insisting that Nigerians will decide who occupies the presidency in 2027.
Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said the Nigerian Constitution guarantees a presidential election in 2027 and argued that no traditional ruler has the authority to determine the outcome before Nigerians cast their votes.
The former vice president was responding to comments made by the Lagos monarch during a visit by the APC Presidential Campaign Council, led by its Director-General, Abdulaziz Yari. The Oba had expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.
In a statement issued through Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, the opposition candidate said the traditional ruler could personally support Tinubu but could not speak for more than 200 million Nigerians.
Atiku argued that the presidency was not a traditional institution that could be allocated by a monarch, stressing that the choice of Nigeria’s next president would ultimately rest with voters.
He also used the opportunity to highlight the economic and security difficulties confronting Nigerians, saying millions of citizens were enduring hardship, insecurity and rising living costs while waiting for the 2027 election.
Atiku maintained that democracy was different from a royal succession, insisting that no endorsement by a monarch, political party or campaign organisation could pre determine the outcome of an election that had yet to be decided by the electorate.
