SHEHU SANI RAISES CONCERNS OVER 2027 POWER ROTATION DEBATE

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Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has said that an Atiku Abubakar victory in the 2027 presidential election would bring an end to Nigeria’s informal arrangement of rotating presidential power between the North and South.

Sani made the comment during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, while discussing the debate over regional power sharing ahead of the election.

He acknowledged that Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has a constitutional right to contest the election. However, Sani argued that political parties should consider the principle of rotation when selecting their candidates.

According to him, the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North. He cited former President Muhammadu Buhari’s two terms between 2015 and 2023 as part of his argument.

Sani stressed that rotational presidency is not provided for in Nigeria’s Constitution but said it has operated as an informal political arrangement intended to promote fairness and balance among regions.

He said his position was not intended to prevent Atiku from contesting, adding that the former vice president remained constitutionally qualified to seek the presidency.

Sani also expressed concern that a northern candidate succeeding President Bola Tinubu in 2027 could generate resistance in parts of the South.

His comments come as political parties and aspirants begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.