Atiku’s win will end power rotation – Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said an Atiku Abubakar victory in the 2027 presidential election would effectively end the informal principle of rotational presidency in Nigeria. Sani stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, while reiterating his position that the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North. The former lawmaker said the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate had the constitutional right to contest the election but argued that political considerations around power rotation should guide the 2027 contest. “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 should be allowed to compete for the presidency in 2027, arguing that power should remain in the South until 2031. “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 should field Makinde. Let the South struggle it out and see who wins, and for four years. When the tenure is done by 2031, the North shall have its unchallengeable opportunity to produce leadership of the country,” he said.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google Sani acknowledged that rotational presidency was not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution but said political actors should consider the principle in the interest of fairness, equity and national unity. “It’s very important because we should look at our history where we come from. Some things 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 political power should not be dominated by one section of the country because of population or electoral strength. Sani cited former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure between 2015 and 2023, saying the South did not mount a serious challenge to his presidency during the period. FG woos German firms to revive Nigeria’s steel Give me more time to finish reforms – Tinubu FG to launch African Global Festival in October “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 has 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. Sani stressed that his position did not prevent Atiku from contesting the 2027 election. “About Atiku, the Constitution has not stopped him from contesting the election. He can contest the election, that is my position, and I’m not backing down on it,” he said. Asked about the implication of an Atiku victory, Sani said it would signal the end of the informal arrangement of rotating the presidency between the North and South. “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. “I don’t think anyone would like to preside over a country full of hate, animosity, and conflict,” he said. He added that the political system was already dealing with several crises and argued that a northern president succeeding President Bola Tinubu in 2027 could face opposition in the South. “Right now, the political system is managing a lot of crises. And I don’t think a Northerner taking over power here will come in with ease and convenience to the people in the Southern part of Nigeria,” Sani said. Saheed Oyelakin Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

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