Trending 
Former Borno State Governor and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ali Modu Sheriff, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should defer his presidential ambition until 2031, insisting that it is not yet the North’s turn to produce Nigeria’s next president.
Sheriff made the remarks amid increasing political realignments and coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections, where Atiku is widely believed to be considering another bid for the presidency.
According to him, the principle of power rotation remains crucial to Nigeria’s political stability and national unity. He argued that since President Bola Tinubu, a southerner, is expected to complete two constitutional terms if re-elected in 2027, the presidency should remain in the South until 2031.
The former governor maintained that abandoning the unwritten zoning arrangement could heighten political tensions and undermine the country’s delicate ethnic and regional balance.
His comments come as opposition figures continue consultations over a possible coalition aimed at challenging the ruling APC in the next general election. The debate over zoning has remained one of the most contentious issues shaping political calculations across party lines.
Political analysts believe Sheriff’s position reflects the growing divide within the northern political establishment, with some leaders backing the continuation of the North-South power-sharing arrangement while others argue that competence, rather than geography, should determine who becomes Nigeria’s next president.
The remarks are expected to further intensify discussions over the 2027 presidential race as political parties prepare for what promises to be another fiercely contested election.
