Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has said the 2027 presidential election should feature President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, candidate Peter Obi and other southern candidates.
Sani argued that northern politicians, including former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate Atiku Abubakar, should allow the South to complete an eight year tenure before seeking the presidency.
In a post on X, the former senator acknowledged that there is no constitutional provision requiring presidential power to rotate between the North and South, but argued that such an arrangement was equitable.
“The 2027 political contest should be between Tinubu, Peter Obi, Sowore, Makinde, Adebayo, Duke and other Southern Candidates. The South should complete its eight years,” Sani wrote.
He maintained that the principle of power rotation reflects Nigeria’s political history and should be respected despite not being constitutionally mandated.
“It’s not constitutional but it’s equitable. We should not bury our heads in the sand and deny the realities and complexities of our history,” he said.
Sani further argued that the North would have a strong claim to the presidency in 2031 if the South completes eight years in office.
He warned that rejecting the principle of rotational presidency in 2027 could have implications for similar expectations ahead of the 2031 election.
“Those who say there shouldn’t be respect for the principle of Rotation of power in 2027, should know that it WILL NOT be respected in 2031,” he stated.
His comments come amid debate over Atiku’s decision to contest the 2027 presidential election under the ADC.
Critics of Atiku’s candidacy have argued that the South should complete an eight year presidential tenure before power returns to the North.
Atiku, however, has maintained that the Nigerian Constitution does not bar any eligible citizen from contesting the presidency at any election.
