2027: Udenta Says Atiku Abubakar May Struggle To Secure 10% In Southern States

According to Ireporter Online, former National Secretary of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), Professor Udenta Udenta, has offered his assessment of the build-up to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, noting that the race is expected to be highly competitive and will require broad-based national support across regions.

He stated that the constitutional requirement mandating a presidential candidate to secure at least 25 percent of votes in no fewer than 24 states remains a major determining factor that could shape the outcome of the election.

Udenta, speaking during an interview on Arise News, expressed skepticism about the ability of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to meet the required spread, particularly in the Southern part of the country. He argued that regional balance and nationwide acceptability would play a decisive role in 2027, warning that no candidate can rely on a single stronghold to win the presidency.

He further suggested that the former vice president may struggle to attain even 10 percent of votes in any Southern state, a situation he said could significantly affect his chances of meeting the constitutional threshold.

According to him, “Atiku may not get up to 10 percent of the vote in any Southern state. Winning 25 percent of votes in at least 24 states will not be easy. 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 also emphasized that the Southern region will once again play a pivotal role in determining who emerges victorious in the 2027 presidential election, stressing the importance of nationwide political engagement by all parties.