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By Lawrence Agbo
Former Borno State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Ali Modu Sheriff, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is unlikely to receive Northern backing for the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the region believes power should remain in the South.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Sheriff maintained that Nigeria’s long-standing principle of regional power rotation should be respected, especially after former President Muhammadu Buhari completed two terms in office.
He said the North has no reason to seek the presidency in 2027, insisting that Atiku should postpone any ambition until 2031.
According to Sheriff, political leaders adopted the power-sharing arrangement after the civil war to promote national unity and ensure fairness among the country’s regions.
“After the civil war, our leaders have said that there will no longer be this situation in Nigeria; there is a regional agreement. For Atiku, it’s not our time now. He is on his own because it is the turn for the South. Buhari just finished 8 years.
“If Atiku wants to be president, he can wait; he is a leader in Northern Nigeria, he is eminently qualified, but it is not our time now; he has to wait till 2031. That is the time for the North; for now, it is time for the South,” he said.
The APC chieftain also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would secure a second term in office, although he stressed that the ruling party would still campaign vigorously ahead of the election.
Sheriff further dismissed the presidential ambition of former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, who is expected to contest the 2027 election under the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He also alleged that Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State had damaged his chances of attracting Northern voters, adding that some Northern political supporters have expressed reservations about any alliance involving the former Anambra governor.
