2027: Atiku May Not Get 10% of Votes in Southern States – Udenta

Former National Secretary of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), Professor Udenta Udenta, has expressed doubts over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's chances of meeting the constitutional requirements needed to win Nigeria's 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, Udenta described the 2027 contest as one that would be highly competitive, stressing that candidates must build support across the country rather than rely on a single region.

According to him, one of the biggest hurdles for any presidential hopeful remains the constitutional requirement to secure at least 25 percent of the votes in no fewer than 24 states of the federation.

Udenta argued that Atiku could struggle to meet that threshold, particularly in the Southern part of the country.

"Atiku may not get up to 10 percent of the vote in any Southern state. Winning 25 percent of the votes in at least 24 states will not be easy," he said.

He maintained that the South would once again play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2027 presidential election, making nationwide acceptance a critical factor for every aspirant.

The political analyst further stated that no candidate could realistically depend on support from only one geopolitical region and still expect to emerge victorious.

"The South will be a major battleground in 2027. No candidate can depend on one region. Political parties must strengthen their grassroots structures, improve campaign organisation, expand their reach, and mobilise voters to build nationwide support," Udenta added.

His comments come amid increasing political discussions and early permutations ahead of the 2027 general election, with major political parties expected to intensify consultations and coalition-building efforts in the months ahead.

While Udenta questioned Atiku's prospects in the South, the former vice president has not responded to the remarks. Political observers believe the race for the presidency will largely depend on the ability of candidates to build broad national alliances and satisfy the constitutional requirements for victory.