By: Ehichioya Ezomon
Part two of this header on Monday, August 3, 2026, Iooked at the reasons advanced by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for demanding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC) should resign, or quit the 2027 General Election.
Whereas my thumb’s up for Atiku’s pursuit of authority, control and orderliness, and not confusion, contradictions and flouting of presidential directives in governance; and for Obi’s show of outrage and indignation over Tinubu’s alleged insensitivity, and lack of compassion in response to the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State; the presidential hopefuls went beyond the lawful bounds to call on, or pressure Tinubu to resign, or abstain from seeking re-election.
Self-indicting is Atiku’s attempt to link the reported happenings in government to Tinubu’s alleged “desperation” to retain power when, since 1993, Atiku’s primaried seven times (unbroken, every four years, six times since 2007): 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2026; and ran unsuccessfully three times for President: 2007, 2019 and 2023.
The ‘Waziri Adamawa’ also vied for and won the Adamawa State governorship in 1999, and was awaiting swearing-in when then-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, picked him as his running mate for the 1999 General Election.
Does Tinubu brake any laws due to reported public officials’ tussles for leadership, and failure to obey presidential directives? What offence does the president commit by not contacting Governor Seyi Makinde to commiserate with him and the people of Oyo over bandits’ abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the state, to warrant attempts to exclude him from the January 16, 2027, poll?
Atiku and Obi’s manipulation and weaponisation of public opinion and sentiment about patriotism, and alleged global embarrassment and shame that Tinubu’s brought upon Nigeria, is simply to blackmail, coerce, intimidate and force him out of his first four-year term, and additional four years if re-elected in 2027!
With both demands leading to the same end: to prevent Tinubu from a second term in office, Atiku and Obi thus infringe on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as updated) relating particularly to the right to register and vote as a citizen; freedom of assembly and association, and to form or join any political party in section 40; the right to be voted for in section 131 on Qualifications for election as President; section 135 on Tenure of office of President; and section 137 on Disqualifications, as follows:
“Qualification for election as President: Section 131(1): A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if:
(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;
(b) he has attained the age of 35 years;
(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and
(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.
“Tenure of office of President: Section 135(1): Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person shall hold the office of President until:
(a) when his successor in office takes the oath of that office; or
(b) he dies when holding that office; or
(c) the date when his resignation from office takes effect; or
(d) otherwise ceases to hold office in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
“(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date when:
(a) in case of a person first elected President under this Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office; and
(b) in any other case, the person last elected to that office took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office, or would, but for his death, have taken such Oaths.
“(3) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers it practically impossible to hold elections, the National Assembly may by a resolution extend the period of four years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.
“Disqualifications: Section 137(1): A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if:
(a) subject to the provisions of section 28 (Dual citizenship) of this Constitution, he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country;
(b) he has been elected to the office at two previous elections;
(c) he is adjudged to be a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind;
(d) he is under a sentence of death or imprisonment or fine involving dishonesty, fraud, or any other offence imposed by any court or tribunal;
(e) in not less than 10 years to any election, he has been convicted and sentenced for dishonesty, or found guilty of contravention of the Code of Conduct;
(f) he is an undischarged bankrupt;
(g) he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from the civil or public service of the Federation or of any State at least 30 days before the election;
(h) he is a member of any secret society;
(i) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud, and which indictment is accepted by the Federal or State Government, respectively;
(j) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“(2) Where in respect of any person who has been (a) adjudged to be a lunatic; (b) declared to be of unsound mind; (c) sentenced to death or imprisonment; or (d) adjudged or declared bankrupt, an appeal against the decision is pending in any court in Nigeria, subsection (1) of section 137 shall not apply during the pendency of determination of the appeal, or as the case may be, the appeal lapses or abandoned, whichever is earlier.”
The question: Other than Atiku and Obi accusing President Tinubu of “desperation” to retain power in 2027, which of the above cited provisions of the reviewed 1999 Constitution has he broken to be asked – without following or observing the due process of the law – to resign from office, or abstain from re-election? Aren’t Atiku and Obi “desperate” to take power from the president by deploying any means, including pressurising him to abandon ship midstream, and never to reboard?
As noted in paragraph 3 of this copy, Atiku hasn’t demonstrated that he’s patriotic, and a “unifier,” as he claims, and not desperate for power, for which he’s contested primaries seven times and ran unsuccessfully three times for President, and won the Adamawa State governorship in 1999.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have presented himself for President in 2023, and doing so again in 2027, realising that the four-year, two-term election cycle (2023-2031) belongs to Southern Nigeria to produce the President under the rotation of power between the North and South of Nigeria every eight years!
Dont Atiku and Obi – and the opposition camp – regularly claim that the February 16, 2027, poll is a battle “between Tinubu and Nigerians?” Having so invested confidence in the people, shouldn’t they allow the voters to decide his fate through the ballot box, and not via gimmickry?
Atiku and Obi should respect the electoral laws, and shelve their plot to force President Tinubu out of office, or prevent him from contesting in the 2027 General Election. Let the will of the people prevail for all presidential hopefuls! (END)
Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria. Can be reached on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp @EhichioyaEzomon. Tel: 08033078357
