Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has said that a victory by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election would mark the end of Nigeria’s informal system of rotational presidency between the North and South.
Speaking about the 2027 presidential contest, Sani said Atiku has the constitutional right to contest the election. However, he argued that political considerations surrounding regional power rotation should also be taken into account.
Sani: South Should Complete Eight Years
Speaking on Politics Today, Sani said the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North.
He referred to the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023, arguing that a similar period should apply to the South. Sani acknowledged that rotational presidency is not provided for in Nigeria’s Constitution, but said political actors should consider the arrangement in discussions about fairness, equity and national unity.
What an Atiku Victory Could Mean
According to Sani, an Atiku victory in 2027 would effectively bring the informal principle of rotational presidency to an end.
Sani argued that a northern president succeeding President Bola Tinubu could face opposition from parts of the South. These comments represent Sani’s political assessment of the possible implications of an Atiku victory, rather than a constitutional provision or established outcome.
Rotational Presidency and the Constitution
Nigeria’s Constitution does not establish a North-South rotational system for the presidency. Section 131 sets out the constitutional qualifications for election as President, including Nigerian citizenship by birth, the minimum age requirement, membership of a political party and sponsorship by that party, and the required educational qualification.
Sani has acknowledged this constitutional position while advocating for the continuation of an informal political arrangement based on regional rotation. The question of rotational presidency is therefore a matter of political convention and debate rather than a constitutional requirement.
The 2027 Political Debate
Sani’s comments come as political parties and presidential candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election. Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while President Bola Tinubu is seeking another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The debate over zoning, regional representation and power-sharing is expected to remain part of political discussions ahead of the election.
Conclusion
Sani’s position has added another dimension to the ongoing debate over regional power rotation in Nigeria. While the Constitution does not require presidential power to rotate between the North and South, the issue remains a subject of political discussion as parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 election.
Sources: Channels Television; Punch Newspapers; Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.