Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has argued that the South should be allowed to complete eight years in the presidency before power returns to the North in 2031.
Sani made the argument during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while discussing the 2027 presidential election and the debate over rotational presidency in Nigeria.
According to the former lawmaker, allowing the South to complete an eight-year tenure would, in his view, promote fairness and reduce tensions over the informal power-sharing arrangement between the two regions.
However, Sani acknowledged that rotational presidency is not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution and stressed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has the constitutional right to contest the 2027 presidential 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.
Sani called on political parties to consider fielding southern candidates in the 2027 presidential election.
He specifically mentioned Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Rotimi Amaechi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as examples of southern politicians who could represent their respective parties.
“All the parties. Like the ADC now, they’re supposed to field Amaechi. That is what’s supposed to be. The NDC should field Peter Obi, and the APM, field 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.
‘Rotation Is Not In Constitution’
Sani acknowledged that the principle of rotational presidency is not contained in the Nigerian Constitution.
He, however, argued that political considerations surrounding fairness, equity and national unity should also be considered when discussing the distribution of political power.
“And it’s very important, because we should look at our history where we come from. 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.
The former senator also argued that political power should not be continuously dominated by one part of the country based solely on population or electoral strength.
He referred to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office between 2015 and 2023 as part of the basis for his argument.
According to Sani, the South did not mount a major political challenge to Buhari’s presidency during his tenure.
“Buhari had his eight years in office; there is no serious challenge from the southern part of Nigeria to his government. And despite all that President Tinubu faced from 2015 to 2023, he never thought of raising any challenge to Buhari’s presidency.
“So, I think it’s going to be fair to this country and to our political system that when the South has its eight years, the North should have its eight years,” he said.
‘Atiku Can Contest’
Sani further clarified that his position on rotational presidency does not amount to a claim that Atiku is constitutionally prohibited from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
“About Atiku, 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.
When asked what an Atiku victory would mean for the principle of rotational presidency, Sani said it would, in his view, bring an end to the informal arrangement.
“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 Southwestern part of Nigeria or the Southern part of Nigeria,” he said.
Sani maintained that allowing the South to complete eight years would create an opportunity for power to return to the North in 2031 without 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 the Southern part of Nigeria.
“So, that is my own view. But the constitution has not stopped anyone from contesting, but my view is that all the contestants should come from the southern part of Nigeria for now,” he said.
Rotational presidency remains an informal political arrangement rather than a constitutional requirement. As of September 2026, the 2027 presidential field includes candidates from different regions, including Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the NDC and Seyi Makinde of the APM.
