Aso Rock vacancy has triggered a fresh political clash after Atiku Abubakar rejected the Oba of Lagos’ claim that President Bola Tinubu will retain the presidency after the 2027 election.
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, after the monarch backed President Bola Tinubu for another term and declared that there would be no vacancy in Aso Rock for the next four or five years.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, responded through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, saying Nigerians, rather than traditional rulers or political parties, will decide who occupies the presidency through the ballot in 2027.
Akiolu made the controversial declaration on Monday when the APC Presidential Campaign Council, led by its Director-General, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, visited his Iga-Iduganran Palace in Lagos. The visit formed part of the ruling party’s consultations with traditional and religious leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Newstridez reviewed reports from the palace meeting and Atiku’s response, and found that the disagreement centres on who holds the authority to determine Nigeria’s next president. Akiolu expressed confidence in Tinubu’s re-election, while Atiku stressed that the electorate will make the final decision when Nigerians vote in 2027.
Akiolu said Tinubu deserves another term based on his assessment of the President’s performance. He also urged politicians to approach the coming election peacefully, warning against conduct that could threaten stability. The monarch further called for honesty, hard work, unity and sincerity among political actors.
The monarch also recalled his relationship with Tinubu, noting that his nomination as Oba of Lagos received approval from the Lagos State Government in May 2003, during Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State. He also praised successive Lagos administrations for what he described as their contributions to the state’s development.
Akiolu then delivered the statement that triggered Atiku’s response, saying there would be no vacancy in Aso Rock for the next four or five years. His remark amounted to a clear endorsement of Tinubu’s bid for a second term and drew immediate attention because several opposition figures are already positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
Responding through Shaibu, Atiku rejected the idea that the presidency could become a settled matter before Nigerians cast their votes. He argued that the Nigerian Constitution provides for an election and that the people, rather than traditional rulers, must decide who occupies the Presidential Villa after the poll.
Atiku’s response also took a sharper tone. He said Aso Rock does not belong to any traditional palace and argued that Nigeria’s presidency cannot become an appointment controlled by a monarch. He maintained that Akiolu could personally support Tinubu but could not speak for millions of Nigerians who would participate in the election.
The former vice-president also used the response to highlight the economic difficulties facing Nigerians. He pointed to hunger, insecurity and the rising cost of living, arguing that many citizens are looking toward 2027 and will ultimately judge the government through their votes.
Data reviewed by Newstridez shows that the 2027 presidential contest has already produced competing claims from the ruling APC and opposition groups about the likely outcome. Tinubu supporters have repeatedly used the phrase “no vacancy in Aso Rock” to project confidence in his re-election, while opposition politicians have challenged the claim as premature.
The latest exchange therefore goes beyond a disagreement between Atiku and a traditional ruler. It reflects an increasingly open political battle over the 2027 election, with the APC presenting Tinubu’s second-term bid as a continuation of his administration while opposition figures argue that voters should have the final say.
The palace visit also showed the importance of traditional institutions in Nigeria’s political campaigns. Although monarchs do not conduct elections or determine the constitutional winner, political parties regularly seek their goodwill, advice and influence because of their standing within communities.
For the APC, Yari’s visit to Akiolu formed part of a broader effort to build support for Tinubu ahead of 2027. The campaign council has also been meeting traditional and religious leaders while promoting the President’s record in areas including the economy, security and infrastructure.
For Atiku and the opposition, however, the argument remains that Nigerians must decide whether Tinubu deserves another four years. Atiku’s response places the electorate at the centre of the contest and challenges attempts by political actors to present the 2027 outcome as settled before voting begins.
The exchange also carries significance for Lagos politics because Akiolu remains one of the country’s prominent traditional rulers. His public endorsement of Tinubu gives the President political support from an influential Lagos institution, while Atiku’s response seeks to prevent the endorsement from being interpreted as a wider verdict from Nigerians.
Atiku is not the only opposition politician facing a political environment in which Tinubu’s supporters have repeatedly declared that there will be no opening in Aso Rock. Similar statements have appeared from APC figures and supporters during the buildup to the 2027 election.
However, the final outcome remains a matter for the electorate and the constitutional electoral process. Political endorsements can influence campaigns, but they cannot replace voting, collation and the formal declaration of election results by the relevant electoral authorities.
The latest dispute also gives voters an early look at the tone of the 2027 campaign. As the major parties intensify their mobilisation, Nigerians are likely to hear more arguments about Tinubu’s record, opposition alternatives, the economy, security and the direction of the country.
Meanwhile, Akiolu has urged political actors to keep their disagreements peaceful, while Atiku has continued to frame the election as a choice that belongs to Nigerians. Both positions point to the importance of avoiding actions that could inflame political tensions as the campaign gathers pace.
As at the time of filing this report, the Aso Rock vacancy dispute remained a political exchange between Akiolu and Atiku, with the monarch backing Tinubu for another term and Atiku insisting that Nigerians will determine the next president at the ballot box. The 2027 election will ultimately settle the contest through the constitutional process.
