“APC’s Okechukwu Tells Atiku: ‘No Vacancy in Aso Rock for 2027’”

Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has firmly stated that there will be no vacancy in the Nigerian presidency in 2027, warning former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and other prospective candidates that their hopes are futile.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Okechukwu defended the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, for his assertion that the 2027 presidential seat is secured. He noted that the blame for any perceived “vacancy” should be directed at Atiku and his associates in the PDP, accusing them of breaching the rotation convention that has been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy since the 4th Republic.

Okechukwu elaborated that the PDP’s violation of this convention has deeply divided the party, leading to internal strife that resulted in figures like Nyesom Wike becoming entrenched in the party. He argued that this schism would hinder the PDP’s ability to effectively challenge the APC in the coming years. “The erroneous breach of the rotation convention in the 2023 election is the PDP’s biggest miscalculation,” he said.

Furthering his criticism, Okechukwu stressed that the PDP, now fractured, will struggle to fulfill its role as the country’s primary opposition party, adding that the possibility of a merger similar to the defunct ACN is unlikely due to the greed and infighting within PDP’s leadership.

On the topic of President Bola Tinubu’s potential second term, Okechukwu dismissed calls against it, especially from those citing Nigeria’s economic challenges. He reassured that the country’s economic hardships would ease by 2027, attributing this to the positive impact of some of President Tinubu’s recent economic policies.

“President Tinubu has laid the groundwork for Foreign Direct Investments, and his diplomatic efforts have strengthened Nigeria’s relationships with both the West and the East,” Okechukwu said, highlighting that international backing would help ease Nigeria’s economic difficulties in the years leading to the next election.