Former Borno State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ali Modu Sheriff, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to put aside any plans to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that it remains the South’s turn to produce Nigeria’s next president.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today on Monday, Sheriff argued that Nigeria’s political leaders reached an understanding after the civil war to ensure a balance in the country’s leadership through regional power rotation.
According to him, the North has just completed eight years in office under former President Muhammadu Buhari, and it is only fair for the South to complete its turn before power returns to the North.
Sheriff said Atiku is a respected Northern leader with the experience and qualifications to lead the country but maintained that the timing is not right for his presidential ambition.
“After the civil war, our leaders agreed that there should be regional balance in Nigeria’s leadership. It is not the North’s turn now. Buhari has just completed eight years, so the South should complete its tenure first. If Atiku still wants to become president, he should wait until 2031,” he said.
The APC stalwart also expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure a second term in the 2027 presidential election, while noting that the ruling party would still work hard to earn the support of Nigerians.
On the prospects of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Sheriff dismissed concerns over Obi’s popularity, claiming that Northern voters would not support his presidential ambition.
He further alleged that Obi, during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, drove Northerners out of the state, a claim that has remained a subject of political debate.
Sheriff also claimed that some political stakeholders in Kano State, including supporters of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would be unwilling to support any political alliance involving Peter Obi.
According to him, many of Kwankwaso’s supporters believe they would rather back Kwankwaso if he contests the presidency than support a coalition in which Obi emerges as the candidate.
Sheriff’s comments come at a time when opposition leaders and political parties are intensifying consultations and strategic realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with discussions over possible alliances and zoning expected to shape the country’s political landscape in the coming months.
2027: Atiku Should Wait Until 2031, Presidency Still Belongs to the South — Ali Modu Sheriff
