Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has urged northern politicians seeking the presidency to defer their ambitions until 2031, arguing that the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year stint before power returns to the North.
Yusuf made the call on Sunday at the Kano Government House while receiving 50 campaign vehicles donated by Niger Delta businessman Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for the mobilisation of support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor said the North had completed eight years in power under former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023, after which the presidency moved to the South following Tinubu’s election.
He argued that the same arrangement should be maintained by allowing Tinubu to seek a second term, after which, according to Yusuf, presidential power should return to the North in 2031.
“The North must exercise patience and allow the South to complete their eight years in office. After that, power will return to the North in 2031,” Yusuf said.
The governor described rotational presidency as a means of promoting fairness, equity, national cohesion and a sense of belonging among the country’s regions.
Yusuf’s position reflects an informal political argument over zoning and power rotation. Nigeria’s Constitution, however, does not prescribe an eight-year North-South rotation of the presidency.
The governor also urged political parties and their candidates to make the 2027 campaigns issue-based, saying politicians should focus on policies, programmes and development plans rather than personal attacks.
He called for peaceful political engagement and urged stakeholders to avoid rhetoric or actions capable of threatening the peace and unity of Kano State and Nigeria.
The 50 vehicles unveiled at the event are expected to support grassroots mobilisation for the APC and Tinubu’s 2027 campaign activities across Kano.
