“Atiku Abubakar has begun strategic efforts to win over Yoruba voters as he sets his sights on the 2027 presidential election.”
Atiku has pledged that the interests of the Yoruba people will be central to his policymaking if elected. He emphasized his long-standing bond with the South West, citing his marriage to his Ijesha-born wife, Titi, whom he wed in the 1970s.
Atiku described his wife as his “Jewel of Inestimable Value” and noted that the Yoruba had always occupied a special place in his life, both personally and politically. “This is why the Yoruba, whether individually or collectively, have always occupied a special place in my heart,” he stated. He assured that if elected, the South West would be central to his policymaking.
The former vice president dismissed fears that his presidency would favor his Fulani background, describing himself as a “highly detribalized person” who has always flowed easily with people of diverse tribes, ethnicities, and religions. “Anyone who knows me will tell you with all sincerity that as a person, I am naturally a highly detribalised person,” he added.
Atiku’s pledge to prioritize Yoruba interests is seen as a strategic move to woo the South West, a region considered critical to electoral victory in 2027. The South West has historically played a decisive role in Nigeria’s elections, often determining the balance of power between northern and southern candidates.
Atiku cited his marital and personal ties to the Yoruba as evidence of his long-standing bond with the South West. “I count myself extremely lucky indeed to have had a wife from amongst this noble species of the human race, which by this token implies that the bond uniting me together with the Yoruba is aptly like the genetic bond of a family,” he said.
Atiku’s promise to protect Yoruba interests has sparked interest in his potential candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. As a recurring presidential contender since the early 1990s, Atiku has been making bids under different political platforms. His commitment to prioritizing Yoruba interests could potentially shift the dynamics of the 2027 election.
