Atiku Abubakar has challenged Olusegun Obasanjo’s political influence with claims that the former president lacked sufficient electoral strength to win the 1999 presidential election without substantial support from Northern Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Atiku, who is seeking the presidency in 2027 on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said Obasanjo could not secure victory in his home state or the South-West during the election.
“In 1999, he could not even win his own state or the South-West; it was Arewa that made him President. He possesses no electoral value,” Atiku said.
The comment has added fresh heat to a long-running dispute between the two former leaders, whose political partnership produced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victory in the 1999 presidential election and governed Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.
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The exchange was triggered by Obasanjo’s recent criticism of Atiku and his assessment of their political relationship. The former president described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the “biggest mistake” of his presidency.
Obasanjo also accused his former deputy of disloyalty and involvement in an alleged attempt to remove him from office.
He has rejected that account. He accused Obasanjo of presenting a distorted version of their political history. He has also maintained that he played a significant role in supporting Obasanjo after his release from prison and in building the political structure that helped secure their joint victory in 1999.
The renewed disagreement has assumed added political significance as he prepares for another presidential contest in 2027. He joined the ADC as part of an opposition coalition seeking to challenge the ruling political establishment at the next general election.
Besides, he also used his interaction with journalists to highlight his record of promoting opportunities for younger Nigerians during his eight years as vice-president.
He said some Nigerians who benefited from opportunities created during his tenure later rose to positions as governors, ministers, directors, and other public officeholders.
Atiku said he would pursue a similar approach if elected president in 2027. He promises to create opportunities for young Nigerians to enter public service and assume leadership responsibilities.
These remarks of his against Obasanjo therefore combine a dispute over the political history of the 1999 election with his attempt to present himself as a candidate capable of developing a new generation of Nigerian leaders.
The disagreement between the two men has persisted for years, while both of them have offered sharply different accounts of their partnership and the political events surrounding the Obasanjo administration.
His assessment places particular emphasis on the role of Northern voters in the 1999 election, while diminishing Obasanjo’s electoral influence in the South-West.
With the 2027 presidential race taking shape, the renewed exchange has once again brought the political legacy of the 1999 election into public debate.
