By Ameh Sunday Enyo-ojo
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has described former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the only formidable northern presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Momodu expressed confidence that Atiku could attract substantial support from both the North and South, citing his political experience and relationships across regional boundaries.
He made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview with Newsmen in Ogun State while discussing the influence of northern voters and the political calculations ahead of the next presidential election.
According to the ADC chieftain, although the North remains a significant factor in Nigeria’s presidential elections, votes from the region alone would not determine the outcome.
“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 appeal 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.
Momodu argued that Atiku’s long-standing relationships with Nigerians from different parts of the country could help him attract voters beyond his northern base.
He said Atiku spent much of his adult life in Lagos as a consular officer, where he developed relationships with people from different backgrounds, particularly in the South-East.
The media entrepreneur also cited Atiku’s marriage to Titi Abubakar, whom he described as an Ijesha woman, and his history of choosing southern running mates as factors that could strengthen 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 believe any other northerner was more popular in the South than the former vice-president.
The ADC chieftain further pointed to the North’s political strength, noting that the region comprises 19 of Nigeria’s 36 states, alongside the Federal Capital Territory.
He expressed confidence that Atiku could consolidate support in the North while competing for votes in the South, where President Bola Tinubu and other political figures are expected to seek electoral support.
“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,” he said.
Momodu, however, acknowledged that the South would remain politically contested, citing Tinubu’s support base in the South-West and the presence of influential political figures in the South-East and South-South.
He maintained that Atiku’s national political experience and relationships across the country could help him compete in the 2027 election, while acknowledging that northern support alone would not guarantee victory.
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