According to a report by The Vanguard on Saturday, May 16, 2026, as political consultations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum, serious panic has hit the opposition camp.
Political analysts are warning that a major split among Southern presidential contenders could divide anti-APC votes and easily hand power back to a Northern candidate.
The political calculations show that President Bola Tinubu already controls a solid power base in the South-West.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi still commands deep loyalty across the South-East and among urban youths, while Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has also declared his presidential ambition.
Ahead of 2027, coalition talks involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are ongoing.
However, strategists fear that if Southern votes are scattered across Obi, Makinde, and Tinubu, the North will use its massive voting numbers to hijack the presidency.
ADC chieftain Demiji Fabiyi openly declared that no Southerner can defeat Tinubu in 2027, claiming only a formidable Northern candidate like Atiku can unseat the incumbent. He pointed to how the North united in 2015 to defeat Goodluck Jonathan as proof.
However, prominent political economist Professor Pat Utomi strongly opposed this narrative, accusing Atiku of political opportunism and selective memory regarding the nation’s zoning understanding.
Many observers also doubt if the North can easily unite. They argue that Northern APC governors will likely stay loyal to Tinubu, who controls the federal machinery.
Furthermore, worsening economic hardship, inflation, and public frustration are pushing citizens to vote based on economic survival rather than traditional regional sentiments.
For now, the political space remains highly unpredictable as different factions fight for dominance….See More
