A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said the victory of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2027 presidential election would effectively end Nigeria’s informal rotational presidency arrangement.
Sani made the statement 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.
According to him, Atiku has a constitutional right to contest the election, but political considerations should also be taken into account in determining the direction of the 2027 election.
“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,” Sani said.
He said southern candidates, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, should be allowed to contest alongside other aspirants from the region.
Sani suggested that the ADC could field former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, while the NDC could present Obi and the Alliance for Progressive Movement (APM) could 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.
Sani acknowledged that rotational presidency is not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution but argued that political parties and leaders should consider the arrangement in the interest of fairness, equity 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 noted that former President Muhammadu Buhari governed from 2015 to 2023, arguing that the South should similarly be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North.
Asked what an Atiku victory would mean for the rotational arrangement, Sani said it would effectively bring it to an end.
“If Atiku wins, it means that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria,” he said.
Sani added that such an outcome could generate resentment in parts of the South, while maintaining that his position was not intended to prevent 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.
Tags: Election #Atiku #ShehuSani
