Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has warned that the informal arrangement of rotating the presidency between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions could come to an end if African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Atiku Abubakar wins the 2027 election.
Sani made the comment on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday while arguing that political parties should field southern candidates in the 2027 presidential election.
“If Atiku wins, it means that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria, and there is going to be hard and bitter feelings from the southern part of Nigeria. I don’t think anyone will like to preside over a country full of hate, animosity, and conflict. Right now, the political system is managing a lot of crises,” he said.
“I don’t think a northerner taking over power here will come in with ease and conveniently to the people in the southern part of Nigeria. But if we allow the South to have their eight years, by 2031, a northerner takes over, there will be no challenge from southern Nigeria. That is my own view.”
Sani, however, acknowledged that the Constitution does not prevent Atiku or any other northerner from contesting the presidency.
“I never said Atiku should not run. Constitutionally, he has a right to run for any election, but what I said was that a southern part of Nigeria should be allowed to have its eight-year tenure in office, just like the way the North has from 2015 to 2023,” he said.
He called on opposition parties to field southern candidates and allow the region to compete for the presidency in 2027.
“The NDC should field Peter Obi, the APM should field Makinde, let the South struggle it out and see who wins for four years. And when the tenure is done by 2031, the North should have its unchallengeable opportunity to produce the leadership of the country,” Sani said.
He also rejected the argument that a region’s larger population or electorate should automatically translate into prolonged control of the presidency.
“You cannot say that because you have the largest electorate and population, so you should continue dominating politics,” he said.
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