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Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has joined the debate over the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the contest should be dominated by southern candidates and that the South should complete an eight-year presidential tenure before power returns to the North in 2031.

Sani made the position public in a social media post while commenting on the debate surrounding the informal principle of rotation of political power between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.

He listed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former Anambra State Governor Donald Duke, Omoyele Sowore and Adewole Adebayo among southern politicians he said should be considered in the 2027 contest.

According to Sani, the principle of rotation is not contained in the Nigerian Constitution but argued that it remains relevant to questions of equity and national unity.

He said the South should be allowed to complete eight years before the presidency returns to the North in 2031.

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Sani also warned that politicians who reject the idea of rotational presidency in 2027 should not assume that the principle would automatically be respected when power is due to return to the North.

His comments come as political parties and presidential aspirants intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The former lawmaker has previously expressed similar views on the zoning debate, including in 2024 when he argued that the 2027 contest should be left to southern candidates before the North seeks the presidency in 2031.

Sani’s latest position specifically places former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other northern aspirants outside the contest he envisages for 2027.

The argument, however, remains a political position rather than a constitutional requirement. Nigeria’s Constitution does not prescribe presidential rotation between the North and South, making the issue one of political convention, party arrangements and negotiations among political actors.

The debate over zoning has remained a recurring feature of Nigeria’s presidential politics, particularly around election cycles involving competing regional interests.

With the 2027 election approaching, questions over zoning, eligibility, party nominations and regional representation are expected to remain prominent in political discussions.

Sani’s intervention adds another voice to the ongoing conversation over whether the next presidential contest should be approached through constitutional eligibility alone or also through established political understandings concerning power rotation.