Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has said an electoral victory for African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in 2027 would effectively mark the end of Nigeria’s informal rotational presidency arrangement.
Mr Sani stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday while arguing that the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North.
The former lawmaker said Atiku had a constitutional right to contest the 2027 election but argued that political considerations surrounding power rotation should also be taken into account.
“I never said Atiku should not run. Constitutionally, he has the right to run for any election. But what I said was that the 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,” Mr Sani said.
He said southern candidates, including Peter Obi, should be allowed to contest the election alongside other aspirants.
Mr Sani suggested that the ADC should field former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress should present Obi and the APM should field Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
“Let the South struggle it out and see who wins, and for four years. And when the tenure is done by 2031, the North shall have its unchallengeable opportunity to produce leadership of the country,” he said.
Mr Sani acknowledged that rotational presidency was not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution but said political parties and leaders should consider the practice in the interest of equity, fairness and national stability.
“There are things that are not written in our constitution, but in the interest of justice, fairness, equity, and peace, we need to consider all these things here,” he said.
He argued that the issue should not be determined solely by population or electoral strength, noting that former President Muhammadu Buhari spent eight years in office between 2015 and 2023.
Mr Sani stressed that his position was not aimed at stopping Atiku from contesting the election.
“The constitution has not stopped him from contesting the election. He can contest the election, but for me, that is my position and I’m not backing down on it,” he said.
Asked what an Atiku victory would mean for rotational presidency, Mr Sani said it would effectively bring the arrangement to an end.
“If Atiku wins, it means that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that such an outcome could generate resentment in parts of the South.
Mr Sani maintained that allowing the South to complete an eight-year presidential tenure would make it easier for a northern candidate to succeed President Bola Tinubu in 2031 without facing resistance from the South.
“But if we allow the South to have their eight-year term, by 2031, a Northerner takes over, there will be no challenge from Southern part of Nigeria,” he said.
