Shehu Sani says Atiku victory in 2027 could end Nigeria’s power-sharing convention

Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has said an Atiku Abubakar victory in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election would mark the end of the country’s informal rotational presidency principle. Sani made the comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. He said Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, had the constitutional right to contest, but maintained that political considerations should guide the next election.

According to Sani, the southern part of Nigeria should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure, which he compared with the period he identified as the North’s eight years in office from 2015 to 2023. He said southern contenders, including Peter Obi and other candidates, should be allowed to compete in 2027. Sani acknowledged that rotation between the regions was not written into Nigeria’s Constitution.

He nevertheless argued that political actors should consider the arrangement in the interests of fairness, equity, justice and national unity. He said political power should not be controlled by one part of the country simply because of its population or electoral strength. Sani also argued that a northern president succeeding the current southern leadership in 2027 could face resistance in the South.

He said such an outcome could generate resentment and make governing more difficult in a political system already facing several crises. By contrast, he argued, allowing the South to serve eight years would create a path for a northerner to take office in 2031 without opposition from the region. Sani stressed that his position did not legally prevent Atiku from running.

He said the Constitution allowed the former vice-president to contest, while reiterating his personal view that the 2027 presidential field should consist of southern candidates.