RismadarVoice Reporters
September 25, 2026
Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has warned that an Atiku Abubakar victory in the 2027 presidential election could effectively end Nigeria’s informal arrangement of rotating the presidency between the North and South.
Sani, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, argued that allowing another northerner to assume the presidency in 2027 could generate resentment in parts of southern Nigeria.
“If Atiku wins, it means that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria, and there is going to be hard and bitter feelings from the southern part of Nigeria,” Sani said.
He maintained that the South should be allowed to retain the presidency until 2031, after which, in his view, the North could seek to return to power.
Sani, however, acknowledged that Nigeria’s Constitution does not prevent Atiku or any other eligible northerner from contesting the presidency.
“I never said Atiku should not run. Constitutionally, he has a right to run for any election,” he said.
The former senator argued instead that political parties should consider fielding southern presidential candidates in 2027.
He cited Peter Obi and Seyi Makinde among southern politicians he believed should be allowed to contest, arguing that voters should ultimately determine the outcome.
Sani also rejected the argument that a region’s larger population or voting strength should translate into prolonged control of the presidency.
“You cannot say that because you have the largest electorate and population, so you should continue dominating politics,” he said.
Nigeria’s Constitution does not formally require the presidency to rotate between regions. Power rotation or zoning is primarily a political arrangement adopted by parties and political actors at different periods.
Atiku is contesting the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
